home » Biographies of Scientists » Brucellosis routes of infection. Brucellosis is a disease with dangerous consequences

Brucellosis routes of infection. Brucellosis is a disease with dangerous consequences

Brucellosis affects the joints, nervous system, heart and blood vessels of the patient. In nature, the pathogen exists in the blood of livestock - cows, sheep, goats. Human infection occurs during lambing or calving of animals, as well as through consumption raw milk, undercooked meat. Contact with fur when grooming animals is dangerous when the infection penetrates into the respiratory tract. The disease is not transmitted from person to person.

Brucellosis in humans usually occurs in epidemics in winter and spring. Children aged 7–12 years are most often affected.

Once in the body, the pathogen penetrates the lymph nodes, and from there spreads to the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. It can exist in these organs for a long time, causing a chronic allergic reaction. The infection causes widespread inflammation of the blood vessels. The disease has a chronic course with relapses.

There are mild, moderate and severe forms, as well as erased and asymptomatic. The disease occurs acutely, fever, pain in muscles and joints appear. With a gradual subacute lesion, weakness first occurs, and then an increase in body temperature.

How to determine the pathology by external signs: 2–3 weeks after contact with animals, the patient suddenly develops a fever, joint pain, sweating, and enlarged lymph nodes. Then the internal organs are involved.

This disease causes a variety of skin rashes.

Signs of the disease

The first signs of infection appear 1 to 5 weeks after the bacteria enters the respiratory or digestive system. Headache, joint and muscle pain, weakness, lack of appetite and insomnia occur. Chills and sweating appear. The strongest reaction of the body develops on days 5–7, when fever appears. At the same time, the lymph nodes enlarge and sweating is characteristic.

Signs of brucellosis include an enlargement of the liver and spleen by 2 - 3 cm. Pain in the knees and ankle joints without signs of acute arthritis. Fibrositis or cellulite develops - painful areas of muscles and subcutaneous tissue. The skin is pale, nosebleeds and various rashes occur on the body.

With a long process, signs of pathology include myocarditis, bronchitis, pneumonia, meningitis and other complications. Changes musculoskeletal system associated with joint pain and the development of radiculitis, which impedes movement.

How to determine pathology in a person: the doctor prescribes laboratory research to identify the pathogen in the drug. The material is isolated from blood, urine, sputum, lymph nodes and other media.

Chronic brucellosis

Conventionally, it is believed that chronic forms of the disease develop six months after the onset of the disease. However, in some patients, signs of chronicity appear earlier. For some, on the contrary, after six months or more the process is still acute.

Chronic brucellosis manifests itself as polyarthritis - multiple inflammation of the joints. The knee, hip, elbow joints, as well as the lumbosacral joint are affected. The disease is accompanied by long-term pain, stiffness, stiffness and deformation of the joints. Liquid does not accumulate in them.

Clinical manifestations of pathology occur connective tissue, muscles (myositis, bursitis) and peripheral nerves (plexitis, polyneuritis). The pathogen can cause meningitis, arachnoiditis, damage to the optic and auditory nerves.

Symptoms chronic form include inflammatory diseases of the genital organs. Thus, women develop adnexitis, endometritis, and termination of pregnancy. For men, orchitis and epididymitis are common. These diseases lead not only to decreased sexual desire, but also to infertility.

The disease has a wavy course. After the incubation period, an acute form occurs with intoxication, enlarged lymph nodes, and damage to internal organs. For example, in the first months of the disease, allergic myocarditis occurs. Then the active chronic form of the disease develops. This condition occurs in waves, gradually subsiding and going into remission. In this case, an exacerbation may no longer develop, but the patient develops irreversible joint deformation or dysfunction of internal organs.

The causative agent of the disease in the chronic form is detected in the form of inactive L-forms. Serological methods are more often used. Enzyme immunoassay is used as screening.

How to identify pathology in a person: the patient, even with a long course, has positive agglutination reactions, complement coagulation and other diagnostic tests. Chronic forms of the disease are treated with antibiotics.

Diagnosis of the disease

The chronic infectious process is reflected not only in clinical manifestations. Diagnosis of brucellosis takes into account the epidemiological situation and contact with animals. How to identify pathology: to confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to isolate the pathogen.

How to diagnose brucellosis? For this purpose, the infectious disease doctor prescribes cultures. biological fluids(blood, urine, effusion from joints, sputum), as well as material from lymph nodes into a nutrient medium. After the formation of microbial colonies, their properties are examined and the diagnosis is confirmed.

The most effective pathology test is polymerase chain reaction(PCR). If it is positive, the diagnosis can be considered confirmed. Additionally, serological tests are used: agglutination and complement fixation reactions. Methods for rapid diagnosis of the disease: Heddleson agglutination reaction and immunofluorescence analysis.

Diagnosis and treatment of the disease are carried out in infectious diseases hospitals. Although the patient is not contagious to others, he is worried about fever, weakness, and joint pain. These symptoms require antibiotic treatment under medical supervision.

In areas of infection, children over 7 years of age and agricultural workers are given the vaccine. Before using it, a thorough diagnosis of the disease is necessary, since latent and chronic forms are a contraindication for vaccination.

To detect hidden disorders and latent forms, Burnet's intradermal allergy test is used. It becomes positive a month after the onset of the disease and remains so for many years. It reflects the development of chronic sensitization of the body in response to microorganisms that can penetrate the lymph nodes and accumulate there.

Symptoms of the disease

General signs the diseases are not specific and resemble the flu. Symptoms of brucellosis in humans:

increased temperature, especially in the afternoon;
pain in the back and throughout the body;
poor appetite, weight loss;
headache;
night sweats;
weakness;
cough and chest pain;
enlarged cervical lymph nodes;
depression and irritability;
abdominal pain caused by an enlarged spleen and liver;
skin rash and microabscesses under the skin.

Signs of the disease appear within a month after infection. The severity of the disorders depends on the type of infection causing the disease.

B. abortus causes mild to moderate changes, but they often become chronic. Signs of B. canis infection may disappear and reappear. Damage to the mucous membranes with the development of diarrhea is observed. B. suis causes the formation of purulent abscesses in internal organs. B. melitensis causes severe host reactions and acute onset of disease.

As a result of complications, the following consequences may occur:

endocarditis;
sacroiliitis;
osteomyelitis;
infertility;
thrombocytopenic purpura - a blood disease accompanied by bleeding;
cerebellar ataxia;
spinal syndrome;
chronic hepatitis;
miscarriages;
intrauterine infection newborns.

However, most patients recover completely after treatment.

Treatment of brucellosis

To destroy the pathogen in tissues, antibacterial therapy is necessary. Treatment of brucellosis with antibiotics is carried out over a week. In the acute period, the following drugs are prescribed:

chloramphenicol;
tetracycline;
erythromycin;
rifampicin.

Antibiotics are prescribed in a dosage appropriate to the patient's age. After 2 weeks, antibacterial treatment of the disease is repeated. Sometimes a third course is needed. These medications destroy bacteria, but do not prevent exacerbations of the disease and the formation of a long-term chronic process.

How to treat brucellosis, besides antibiotics? In addition, vaccine therapy is used. The killed vaccine is administered. The course consists of 8 - 10 injections with an interval of 2 - 5 days.

How to treat the disease with severe or chronic disorders? Prednisolone is prescribed for a month, as well as a drug that affects the immune system - cycloferon. This helps to quickly relieve fever, pain, weakness and other manifestations of inflammation.

Symptomatic treatment with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated. Physiotherapy (UHF, ozokerite, therapeutic mud), therapeutic exercises and massage, radon baths are prescribed.

Depending on the involvement of other organs, a consultation with a cardiologist, pulmonologist, rheumatologist, neurologist and other specialists is prescribed.

Response to treatment is assessed by appearance skin and joints, as well as changes in blood tests.

Doctor's supervision is necessary for 2 years after recovery. Patients are examined 2 times a year, blood tests and serological tests are performed.

Prevention of the disease:

health improvement of pets and their vaccination;
thorough heat treatment milk and meat;
administration of live vaccines to children and agricultural workers;
use of protective clothing and disinfectants in production;
prevention of pollution of water sources with agricultural waste.

After vaccination, unstable immunity occurs. Therefore, in the event of a disease outbreak, the vaccine is re-administered.

Treatment with traditional methods

The disease in humans can last a long time, affecting the musculoskeletal system and nervous system. To avoid this, timely, comprehensive therapy is necessary. Treatment of brucellosis folk remedies does not destroy the causative agent of the disease, but helps reduce the severity of symptoms. The effectiveness of such methods helps to evaluate a blood test for pathology, which should be done after completion of therapy.

Traditional treatment diseases are carried out using the following methods:

take 750 ml carrot juice and 350 ml of pumpkin juice, mix, take half a glass before meals three times a day;
collect birch leaves, buckthorn, willow bark, parsley root, mix and pour boiling water, boil for 20 minutes, take a glass 3-4 times a day;
within 3 days take only vegetable juice and water;
Take a bath with pine concentrate or sea salt every evening.

Traditional medicine offers many remedies for the treatment of pathology. Without the use of antibiotics, they will not help the patient, but will only make the disease chronic. Before using such recipes, you should consult your doctor.

Video about brucellosis

Brucellosis - zoonotic infectious disease that animals carry. Despite the fact that the infection is carried by livestock, it is extremely contagious to humans.

The disease is characterized by a long and severe course; the infection affects the musculoskeletal system, heart, blood vessels, and central nervous system. It is very important to detect the symptoms of brucellosis in a timely manner; an experienced doctor can easily recognize them during the first examination.

What it is?

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection, caused by pathogenic microorganisms from the Brucella family, and characterized by a sluggish inflammatory process in all organs and tissues with predominant damage to the lymphatic, osteoarticular and nervous systems.

Pathogen

The source of Brucella dangerous to humans are mainly 4 types: goats, sheep (Br.melitensis), cows (Br.abortus bovis), pigs (Br.abortus suis) and dogs (Br.canis), excreting the pathogen in milk, urine, amniotic fluid; moreover, the carrier of brucellosis is the autumn beetle (Stomaxys calcitrans).

Human infection occurs through direct contact with carrier animals or through consumption of contaminated foods, such as raw milk and cheese made from unpasteurized milk.

Symptoms of brucellosis

At an early stage, brucellosis in a person, whose symptoms are very similar to the flu or other viral infections, is very difficult to diagnose. The initial manifestations of brucellosis include:

Increased temperature with high “candles” in the daytime and evening (the most common sign of brucellosis);
back pain, pain or burning in the extremities;
Poor appetite and weight loss;
Headache, night sweats, weakness.

After the pathogen that causes brucellosis enters the body, symptoms in a person appear within 5 to 30 days (on average, 2-3 weeks); with latent carriage, it can extend up to 3 months. The severity of the course depends on the type of pathogen:

B. abortus causes mild symptoms. The patient's condition is assessed as mild or moderate, but the disease more often becomes chronic.
Symptoms of disease caused by B. canis may be transient. The course is similar to an infection caused by B. abortus, but vomiting and diarrhea are more common.
B. suis can cause abscesses to form in various organs.
B. melitensis causes severe disease with sudden onset. This disease can lead to disability of the patient.

The protracted (chronic) course of brucellosis is manifested by constant, increasing weakness, apathy, and joint pain. This nature has a less favorable prognosis and can lead to underestimation of the condition and late treatment. medical care. According to statistical data, the chronic course is several times more likely to result in patient disability.

Acute form

The acute form of brucellosis is established in patients whose clinical symptoms appear within 3 months.

With a gradual onset of the disease (more often in elderly patients), weakness, malaise, weakness, bad dream, muscle and joint pain, low-grade body temperature are the main symptoms of brucellosis during this period. Peripheral lymph nodes are slightly enlarged (micropolyadenopathy). As symptoms of intoxication increase, body temperature rises significantly. The patient experiences heavy sweats and chills. The liver and spleen enlarge.

At rapid development disease (acute brucellosis), body temperature rises to 39 - 40°C. The temperature curve has a wave-like shape, often of an irregular type. The patient experiences heavy sweats and chills, but overall health remains satisfactory. Peripheral lymph nodes are enlarged, some of them are painful on palpation. Painful formations are palpated under the skin - cellulite and fibrositis. By the end of the first week, the liver and spleen enlarge. There are no focal lesions. ESR and leukocytes remain within normal limits or are slightly elevated.

Subacute form

The subacute form of brucellosis is established in patients whose clinical symptoms appear within 3 to 6 months. The disease is characterized by a relapsing course. The patient's body temperature bothers him for several days. Muscle and musculoskeletal pain, paresthesia, poor sleep and appetite, muscle weakness are the main symptoms of brucellosis during this period. Allergic manifestations in the form of exanthems and dermatitis are observed on the skin.

In some cases, when severe course diseases, signs of infectious-allergic endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis, signs of sluggish meningitis are found. 10 - 15% develop clinical picture lesions of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system and genital area.

Chronic form

The chronic course of brucellosis is characterized by periods of exacerbation and subsequent remission. The main blow falls on the nervous system: various hearing and vision impairments, decreased sensitivity, and hyperhidrosis are noted.

The musculoskeletal system also suffers. Various destructions and deformations of the spine, periostitis, perichondritis, and neuroses may develop. The genitourinary system is also affected: in women it manifests itself in the form of endometritis, dysmenorrhea, salpingitis, and in men it mainly develops orchitis.

Brucellosis can cause a number of other pathological changes: hormonal imbalances, arthrosis, contracture, ankylosis.

Diagnosis of brucellosis

It is considered mandatory laboratory diagnostics diseases, including cultures of cerebrospinal fluid, blood and lymph node punctures. Such diagnostics are carried out in special laboratories, since due to the low seeding rate it is very difficult to identify the infectious agent.

IN last years received distribution:

hemagglutination aggregate reaction, which detects Brucella antigens in the blood;
Coombs test, to detect incomplete antibodies in chronic brucellosis;
Wright's reaction, the most informative for acute brucellosis;
Brucella lysis reaction;
Burnet test, with intradermal injection of brucellin.

Diagnosis of the disease consists of differentiating the disease from other diseases accompanied by prolonged fever. In acute brucellosis, the temperature measurement schedule is incorrect, with the appearance of chills and increased sweating. The doctor should also exclude rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatism, tuberculous focal lesions, gonorrheal and syphilitic arthritis. If brucellosis is suspected, the condition of the lymph nodes, liver and spleen is checked.

Treatment of brucellosis in humans

Etiotropic therapy is carried out through the use of antibiotics. It is important to follow some rules:

Simultaneous use of two drugs active against Brucella;
The optimal duration is at least 5-6 weeks;
Continuity;
Prescribe antibiotics only in case of exacerbation of the process. Using an antibiotic between attacks will do more harm than good;
Using high dosages.

Of the specific treatment regimens, the following combinations have performed well:

Tetracycline with streptomycin;
Rifampicin with doxycycline;
Doxycycline with streptomycin or erythromycin;
Azithromycin or clarithromycin with biseptol;
Doxycycline with amikacin.

Complications

Brucellosis can affect almost any part of the patient's body, including organs reproductive system, liver, heart and central nervous system.

Among possible complications note:

Brucellosis in pregnant women can cause miscarriage and fetal development abnormalities.
Arthritis. A joint infection is characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected area (usually the knees, ankles, hips, wrists, and spine);
Endocarditis. This is one of the most serious conditions that can lead to disruption of the heart valves. Endocarditis is the main cause of death in patients with brucellosis;
Infections of the central nervous system: meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain itself);
Infectious inflammation of the liver and spleen. With the development of this complication, the patient experiences an increase in these organs in size and pain in the epigastric area;
Infectious inflammation of the testicles (epididymo-orchitis). Brucella can invade the epididymis, the tube connecting the vas deferens and the testes. From there, the infection can spread further into the testicles, causing swelling and pain.

Treatment prognosis

Brucellosis rarely causes death. Even before the advent of antibiotics, the mortality rate did not exceed 2% and was mainly due to endocarditis. However, brucellosis often results in disability. The severity of residual defects depends on the type of pathogen.

The most severe consequences leaves brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis. One of the causes of disability is neurological disorders, including spinal cord damage and paraplegia. Sensorineural hearing loss has been described as a complication of meningoencephalitis and treatment with streptomycin.

Prevention

If there are risks of contracting this disease, then in a situation where some signs of brucellosis occur, you should immediately consult a specialist. All preventive measures can be aimed at preventing contact with sick animals; if this is not possible, then measures must be taken to prevent animal disease.

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. The infection is characterized by a long, chronic course, damage to the osteoarticular apparatus, nervous system and heart. The causative agent of brucellosis is common in the natural environment and tolerates well low temperatures, retains the ability to reproduce even after prolonged exposure to water and soil. In food products, bacteria live from 2 (cow's milk) to 5 (frozen meat) months. When using special means, brucellae die within a few minutes.

As a rule, brucellosis is detected in domestic animals whose meat and milk we eat. The causative agent of brucellosis enters the human body through the mucous membranes of the digestive and respiratory systems. Brucellosis can also be introduced through fresh scratches, abrasions and other injuries. This is especially typical for people whose work involves processing leather and wool or caring for sick animals. Veterinarians, shepherds, milkmaids, and livestock specialists are at risk.

What happens when infected?

Having penetrated the body, Brucella quickly spreads throughout the body through lymphatic channels and blood vessels. Soon, new foci of infection appear in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. At the same time, brucellosis in humans affects the central nervous system, musculoskeletal system and genital organs. In response to the action of bacteria, the body's defense reactions are activated, but, as a rule, the immune system is not able to provide bacteriological cleansing of the blood and lymph nodes due to the constant transformation of pathogens. This means that if brucellosis is diagnosed, treatment should be carried out not at home, but in specialized departments of clinics. Otherwise, brucellosis will develop into a chronic form, and it will be much more difficult to cope with it. Let us also note that chronic brucellosis is often accompanied by immunopathological manifestations, provoking the emergence and growth of a whole “bouquet” of other diseases.

Brucellosis - symptoms and clinical picture

During the primary latent form, brucellosis in humans practically does not manifest itself in anything. Characteristic symptoms brucellosis appear only after the incubation period (after 1-5 weeks), when the disease develops into an acute septic or chronic form.

Acute brucellosis in humans has the following symptoms:

increased body temperature (high temperature can last up to 3 weeks);
profuse sweating;
chills;
fever;
enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes.

In some cases, treatment of brucellosis in humans ends in complete recovery, but often the reverse process occurs when the disease becomes septic-metastatic. In this case, the patient suffers from regular febrile attacks, severe intoxication, diffuse joint pain, sleep disturbances, and headaches. Brucellosis, the symptoms of which indicate damage to the main systems of the body, leads to serious complications: myocarditis, meningitis, hepatitis, endocarditis, miscarriages early stages pregnancy. After 6 months (this period is largely arbitrary), the acute form of brucellosis becomes chronic.

First of all, chronic brucellosis in humans is characterized by focal lesions. Most often, large joints - hips, elbows, knees - suffer from infection. Patients are also concerned about the following symptoms of brucellosis:

persistent pain in the first half of the day;
deformation of joints and joints;
feeling of stiffness;
neuritis, radiculitis and other lesions of the nervous system;
may occur: meningitis, damage to the optic and auditory nerves, miningoencephalitis.

In the chronic form of brucellosis in humans, focal changes in the genital organs often lead to infertility in women and decreased sexual function in men. After some time, the infection gradually goes into remission, but leaves behind irreversible changes in the musculoskeletal system. For this reason, patients diagnosed with chronic brucellosis (diagnosis of the disease should be carried out only by experienced doctors) require hospitalization and adequate treatment, which will reduce the risk of disability.

Brucellosis - treatment of the disease

In the acute septic form, when treating brucellosis, patients are prescribed:

etiotropic therapy;
taking antibiotics of the tetracycline group - rifampicin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin. Drugs that penetrate well into cells are recommended, for example, oral doxycycline or intramuscular streptomycin;
physiotherapeutic and sanatorium-resort treatment (not earlier than 6 months after the disappearance of clinical symptoms).

When chronic brucellosis is diagnosed, treatment is based on the use of general strengthening measures and vaccine therapy. The prognosis in most cases is favorable, however, it is worth remembering that brucellosis often leads to disability.

Infection prevention is aimed at reducing the incidence of brucellosis in domestic animals and livestock. For this purpose, specialists carry out sanitary and veterinary measures, during which the causative agent of brucellosis almost always dies. Specific prevention involves the use of anti-brucellosis vaccines. They are regularly given not only to animals, but also to livestock workers, employees of meat processing plants and representatives of other professions related to meat processing or the processing of hides and fur.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

The information is generalized and is provided for informational purposes. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor. Self-medication is dangerous to health!

Comments on the material (26):

1 2

Nadezhda doctor / 27 Sep 2016, 13:37

I quote Alexander:

Hello, Alexander.

Alexander / 28 Sep 2016, 18:25

I quote Nadezhda doctor:

I quote Alexander:
Hello, Nadezhda. For more than six months now I have been tormented by pain in the lower back, knees, elbow joints, in the pelvis, spine, headache, numbness facial nerve, pain in the submandibular lymph nodes, sweating, weakness, low-grade fever, heaviness in the heart. I took a PCR test for brucella, the result was positive, I went to the infectious diseases hospital, they did the Wright Heddelson test, it was negative, they said that I did not have brucellosis, so they did not treat me. Please tell me how is it possible that this reaction gave a negative result? Could this happen with a chronic form of the disease or with a change in the brucella gene plan?

Hello, Alexander.
Theoretically, this is possible. The Wright-Heddelson reaction is positive from the onset of the disease until the end of the febrile period, sometimes longer, it becomes negative after about a year. Therefore, in your case it should still be positive if it is brucellosis. However, it should be kept in mind, especially when it comes to domestic laboratories, that there is a high probability of error (in any research, including PCR), anything can affect it - defects in blood sampling, insufficiently pure materials for testing, low-quality reagents, etc. d. Therefore, neither confirmation of the diagnosis nor its refutation for an infection such as brucellosis is based on a single analysis. A comprehensive diagnosis is required.

Nadezhda doctor / Sep 28, 2016, 11:32 pm

I quote Alexander:

Nadezhda, the ELISA test for brucellosis is also negative. I didn't have a fever, that is, I didn't have acute phase illness, the disease proceeded latently, then as chronic. Maybe that’s why the body didn’t have time to react by releasing antibodies? Or what other infection can test positive for brucellosis with such clinical symptoms?

Alexander / 30 Sep 2016, 07:51

I quote Nadezhda doctor:

I quote Alexander:
Nadezhda, the ELISA test for brucellosis is also negative. I did not have a fever, that is, there was no acute phase of the disease, the disease proceeded latently, then as chronic. Maybe that’s why the body didn’t have time to react by releasing antibodies? Or what other infection can test positive for brucellosis with such clinical symptoms?

A positive result when performing the Wright-Heddelson reaction for similar indications can be given by tuberculosis with a predominant lesion of the osteoarticular system. I guess this is not the case.

Nadezhda, you misunderstood me a little. My PCR consistently gives a positive result, that I have brucella in my blood, the Wright-Heddelson reaction is negative, the ELISA is negative, there was no fever, but all the other symptoms of intoxication are present and the disease is sluggish, maybe that’s why the antibodies haven’t had time to develop. I took PCR and ELISA tests for tuberculosis, both results were negative.

1 2

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Brucellosis is one of the infectious diseases that humans encounter through contact with infected animals and their waste products. Symptoms and treatment of brucellosis in humans depend on the type of bacterium; the disease can be mild or lead to the development of severe multiple organ failure, leading to the death of the patient.

Brucellosis - what is it?

Brucellosis is an infectious zoonotic disease prone to chronicity - the disease is characterized by damage to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, as well as the genitals and heart.

For the first time, the disease was widely discussed back in the 19th century, when English scientists isolated the microbes that cause this disease. The disease was named after the scientist’s surname, and the microorganisms themselves were named Brucella.

The causative agent of brucellosis is a small, non-motile bacterium from the genus Brucella. This genus consists of 6 species, each of which is further divided into several subtypes.

In humans, the disease is caused by three species of Brucella, the hosts of which are goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, hares and, less commonly, dogs.

Important! Determining the specific type of bacteria plays an important role in selecting treatment tactics and preventing the spread of the disease.

How is brucellosis transmitted, causes of infection?

Brucella has a pronounced penetrating ability and enters the body even through intact (undamaged) mucosa. The bacterium itself is very resistant to external environment and retains its viability for up to several months, both in water and in meat.

When exposed to high temperatures, it dies almost instantly and is sensitive to the action of many antiseptics.

Brucellosis is transmitted to humans from various animals (goats, sheep, camels, yaks, pigs, etc.), which excrete the pathogen in feces, blood, saliva, milk and amniotic fluid. Transmission occurs by fecal-oral, less often contact and airborne routes.

The greatest danger comes from milk and dairy products, meat and wool. Insufficient heat treatment of meat, ingestion of a dust suspension containing brucella, consumption of raw contaminated water - all these and other factors can cause the development of the disease in humans.

The disease can be transmitted from mother to fetus during childbirth and during breastfeeding.

Important! Human susceptibility to brucellosis is very high, i.e. Contact or consumption of products contaminated with Brucella almost always leads to the development of the disease. Immunity is unstable and lasts for six months. Re-infection with another subtype of this bacterium is possible.

Symptoms of brucellosis in humans, first signs

Symptoms of brucellosis in humans depend on the stage and form of the disease. Incubation period(from the moment of infection to the first signs) lasts several weeks, rarely stretches to a month.

According to the classification, there are several forms of brucellosis, their symptoms are different:

1. Acute. Develops relatively quickly. The patient is worried about low-grade fever, weakness, malaise, and joint pain. The lymph nodes gradually enlarge and the symptoms of intoxication increase: a high temperature appears, the person shudders and has a fever. Ultrasound reveals an increase in the size of the liver and spleen.

On the background high temperature the patient may feel relatively normal, which significantly complicates the early diagnosis of brucellosis, since many patients do not attach importance to this.

With this form, attention is drawn to disorders in the psychoemotional sphere: hysteria, irritability, depression, decreased memory and performance. The patient is bothered by pain in the joints and muscles. Lymph nodes enlarge. The severity is determined by the type of pathogen and the individual characteristics of the patient.

2. Subacute. It occurs with constant relapses. Patients present various complaints: from joint pain and fatigue to decreased vision and loss of libido. Allergic manifestations of the disease develop: eczema, dermatitis, itchy skin and rash. Women may experience spontaneous miscarriages.

3. Chronic. Periods of relative improvement are followed by periods of high fever and severe symptoms. Among the symptoms of chronic brucellosis in humans, disorders of the musculoskeletal system, neurological disorders and pathology of the genitourinary system predominate in both men and women. Damage to almost all organs and systems develops.

4. Residual. The causative agent of the disease is no longer in the body, but signs of residual disorders of the nervous and motor systems remain. Fatigue, increased sweating, joint pain, muscle atrophy and other signs of brucellosis are observed.

Diagnosis of brucellosis

Diagnosis of brucellosis is carried out in specially equipped laboratories. To obtain a reliable result, several serological methods can be used at once.

Currently, isolation of the pathogen is not required, since the results can be obtained by simpler and more reliable tests for brucellosis (ELISA, RIF, etc.).

The specific Burnet test has become widespread. It is based on producing an allergic reaction on the skin when brucellin (a special protein from Brucella) is introduced into it.

If edema and hyperemia develop on the skin 20-25 minutes after the administration of this protein, the test is considered positive. This reaction is observed in all patients with brucellosis, even in those who had it several years ago.

Treatment of brucellosis is complex and depends on the form and symptoms of the pathology in a person. The following drugs are used for treatment:

Antibiotics. Several antibacterial drugs are used at once, which act on both intracellular and extracellular forms (Rifampicin, Ofloxacin, Doxycycline, etc.).
Painkillers. Also, for severe pain, novocaine blockades are used.
Detoxification drugs.
Anti-inflammatory and immunostimulants.

Today, the previously used anti-brucellosis vaccine is being abandoned due to its properties to suppress the immune system and enhance autoimmune reactions.

Prognosis and prevention

The prognosis is determined by the form of brucellosis and the condition of the internal organs at the time of treatment. In most cases, the prognosis for life is favorable, but the patient may be bothered by residual symptoms of the disease for a long time.

An important role is given to preventive measures. They carry out explanatory work on personal hygiene measures when working with animals and the inadmissibility of using thermally untreated products in disadvantaged areas. Persons whose profession involves animals are systematically screened for the presence of brucellosis. As auxiliary measures, vaccinations are carried out for both workers and animals.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection that is transmitted through contact with a sick animal. May leak into various forms and causes severe disorders of the nervous, musculoskeletal, reproductive and other systems.

Preventive measures and early diagnosis will help avoid the disease or cure it in the initial stages.

If the destructive effect of brucellosis is not stopped in time, irreversible pathological processes begin in the human body and the functioning of many organs is disrupted.

– an infectious disease of animals caused by Brucella bacteria, which can be transmitted to humans and destroy his body. The danger of the disease lies in the high mortality rate of organs and systems infected by bacterial infection.

Brucellosis virus under a microscope

How can you become infected with brucellosis?

Getting infected with brucellosis is quite difficult. Despite the fact that the disease is infectious, it is almost impossible to become infected from a person with brucellosis.

IMPORTANT: The source of infection is domestic animals. The main carriers of brucellosis are cattle, pigs, horses and dogs. Contacted

with milk, blood, amniotic fluid or feces of a sick animal, a person will most likely also get sick, since the human body is very susceptible to infection of this type.

The following are always at risk:
veterinarians
lovers of raw homemade milk, homemade cheeses
farmers
butchers

workers involved in processing animal wool

IMPORTANT: Having had brucellosis once, a person receives a kind of vaccination against re-infection. Only in 1-5% is secondary infection with Brucella possible.

Brucellosis in humans: symptoms and signs
Brucellosis begins in humans like a common cold.

In the first days, patients are concerned about:
fever
jumps in body temperature
joint pain
feeling of muscle stretching
fatigue
sweating

swollen lymph nodes

IMPORTANT: The acute course of brucellosis is characterized by mood swings in the patient. Unexplained nervousness when infected with brucellosis suggests that the bacteria are affecting the nervous system.

Diagnosis of brucellosis in humans

When examining a patient, a doctor may suspect brucellosis due to a pronounced enlargement of the patient’s liver and spleen.

IMPORTANT: If other signs are present, such as sweating, chills and irregular temperature changes, the patient is prescribed tests, the results of which are necessary for further diagnosis.

When should a person be tested for brucellosis? Referral for a general blood test and bacteriological
Tests to identify the causative agents of brucellosis in their pure form are carried out only in specially equipped laboratories.

IMPORTANT: Material for bacteriological studies may include: blood, urine, bile, bone marrow or joint fluid of the patient.

How to treat brucellosis in humans?

Treatment of acute forms of brucellosis primarily involves long-term use of antibiotics ( tetracycline, biseptol, rifampicin, chloramphenicol) in large doses.

IMPORTANT: Incorrect assessment of the patient’s condition and premature cancellation antibacterial the drug can lead to the transition of the disease to a chronic form.

For joint damage, it is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs (analgin, voltaren).

Treatment of brucellosis should be accompanied by taking vitamins.

What is chronic brucellosis in humans?

Diagnosis: " Chronic brucellosis » means that the immune system has allowed harmful Brucella bacteria into the cells of the organs. There they multiply and from time to time strike the patient's body.

The chronic form of brucellosis is characterized by:

constant weakness
headache
irritability
restless sleep
decreased appetite
noticeable enlargement of lymph nodes
joint diseases and tumors
pain in large muscles
traffic restrictions

A symptom of chronic brucellosis is constant headaches

IMPORTANT: With chronic brucellosis, pregnancy in women in most cases ends in miscarriages or death of the fetus in the womb.

How to treat chronic brucellosis in humans?

To activate the immune system, a patient with chronic brucellosis is given an intravenous vaccine containing killed Brucella bacteria. The body's response to this vaccine is to effectively fight the infectious agent.

IMPORTANT: Immunoglobulin contributes to the rapid fight against chronic brucellosis anti-brucellosis. This drug already contains antibodies that the weakened body could not produce on its own.

Antibacterial drugs for chronic brucellosis are rarely prescribed - in cases where the disease worsens and there is severe fever and fever.

IMPORTANT: To alleviate allergic manifestations accompanying chronic brucellosis, patients are prescribed antihistamines drugs: suprastin, citrine, edem, etc.
In order to improve general immunity, vitamin complexes are used.