Human brucellosis treatment

Brucellosis for humans is an extremely dangerous disease. Of course, properly conducted therapy helps to cope with the infection. But, according to statistics, sometimes the activity of pathogenic bacteria leads to a mass of very dangerous complications. The fact is that the infection spreads rapidly throughout the body, affecting almost all organ systems, including the nervous and cardiovascular.

Of course, many people are looking for additional information about this pathology. Why does brucellosis appear in humans? Symptoms, treatment, photos of patients with a similar diagnosis - all this is very interesting, so it’s worthwhile to dwell on all these points in more detail.

Pathogen Description

Before considering the symptoms of brucellosis in humans, photos of patients and effective methods of treatment, it is worth learning more about the causes of the disease.

Brucellosis is an ailment that is associated with the penetration of a zoonotic infection into the human body, in particular brucella. These are gram-negative immobilized bacteria that are capable of parasitizing inside the cell. It is worth noting that these pathogens, as a rule, live in the body of livestock, in particular cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and sometimes dogs.

It is worth saying that the pathogen of this disease was first isolated in 1886 by the English scientist David Bruce. To date, this infection is common in the Middle East, but in Europe, cases of such an ailment are rarely recorded.

People are extremely susceptible to this infection. Researchers say that most often brucellosis in humans develops against the background of invasion by one of the four main types of pathogen:

• Brucella melitensis is the most common “culprit” of such a disease. The source of infection is goats and sheep. This type of bacteria is common in the Middle East, the territories of India and Latin America, as well as in Greece and Spain.
• Brucella suis, the source of which is wild pigs. Infection is common in the United States.
• Brucella canis is a type of bacteria that parasitize dogs. Such an infection spreads in countries of Central Europe, as well as in the territories of Central and South America.
• Brucella abortus is ubiquitous. The source is cattle.

How is the infection transmitted?

It is worth noting that a sick animal releases bacteria into the external environment along with feces, milk, amniotic fluid. How can I catch an infection?

• As already mentioned, the infection spreads along with the milk of sick animals. You can get infected by eating unpasteurized milk, as well as cheeses, koumiss, raw meat.
• The risk group includes people who work with animal raw materials, for example, produce products from the wool and skin of animals.
• The gates for infection become small scratches, cracks and other microtraumas on the skin and mucous membranes. Pathogenic bacteria can enter the human body while caring for animals.
• There is a chance of bacteria entering the body through the respiratory tract.
• Sometimes brucellosis is transmitted from person to person, but such cases are rarely recorded. You can catch the infection during intercourse.
• Do not forget that pathogenic bacteria leave the animal's body with urine and fecal matter. Thus, brucella settle on the soil, spread through the air, fall into the water. You can get infected by drinking contaminated water or eating unwashed fruit, etc.

Symptoms of brucellosis in humans. Photos, signs, features description

It is worth immediately saying that the incubation period for this disease is quite long. Symptoms of brucellosis in a person are manifested, as a rule, 1-4 weeks after infection, although there are cases when the infection was activated two months after ingestion.

Once in the body, pathogenic microorganisms quickly spread and settle in various tissues and organs. The list of the first symptoms includes an increase in temperature - while the maximum jumps are observed in the daytime and evening. Of course, other violations appear:

• worsening of health, weakness, general malaise;
• loss of appetite;
• sharp pain in the joints (the patient is sometimes difficult to move);
• chills are observed, which alternates with episodes of severe sweating;
• the patient's skin turns pale, swelling and redness of the facial tissues are observed;
• with palpation, as well as during ultrasound diagnostics, you can see a significant increase in the spleen and liver;
• in addition, an increase and swelling of the regional lymph nodes is possible - most often the infection affects the cervical and axillary nodes (their palpation is accompanied by pain).

Symptoms of intoxication, sometimes last for 3-4 weeks. If untreated, brucellosis in a person passes into the so-called subacute stage of development.

What are the symptoms of the subacute form?

At this stage, the clinical picture is changing:

• Fever is still present, but often alternates with periods of relative well-being, when the patient's body temperature drops to normal levels.
• Against the background of a sharp increase in temperature, short-term heart rhythm disturbances are often observed.
• There are other symptoms that indicate the presence of an inflammatory process. Patients complain of chills, severe pain in the joints and muscles, increased heart rate, intense thirst, and a feeling of goosebumps on the skin. Symptoms also include constipation and dry mouth.
• Through the skin along the muscles and tendons, you can feel small dense formations the size of a pea.
• Patients complain of stiffness in movements, joint pain, swelling in the affected areas. Against the background of infection, diseases such as polyarthritis, bursitis, tendovaginitis (inflammatory lesions of the ligaments) develop.
• In men, bacteria often penetrate the tissues of the testes and appendages. The inflammatory process in this case is accompanied by severe scrotal edema, pain in the groin, lower abdomen and lower back.
• The reproductive system of a woman is also sensitive to this type of infection. The activity of pathogenic microorganisms is often accompanied by a violation of the menstrual cycle, the development of endometritis.

In the most severe cases, the disease is accompanied by inflammation of the membranes of the heart (pericarditis). There is a chance of developing toxic toxic shock.

Chronic brucellosis in humans: signs, photos, features of the clinical picture

The inflammatory process sometimes drags on for several years. Of course, the symptoms in this case become less pronounced, but the consequences of the disease are much more dangerous. Chronic brucellosis in humans is accompanied by certain signs:

• Body temperature is normal, sometimes rises to subfebrile values. Fever occurs periodically and, as a rule, is associated with secondary infection of the body, for example, influenza virus, etc.
• If the joints are affected, then gradually they begin to deform. Destruction leads to a decrease in mobility or its complete loss. Movement with a similar disease is accompanied by severe pain. The list of concomitant disorders include spondylitis.
• Infection can penetrate the tissues of the nervous system, resulting in neuritis of the facial, optic and auditory nerve. There is a possibility of reactive neurosis. Symptoms of chronic brucellosis also include paresthesia, inflammation of the nerve plexuses, and radiculitis.
• The disease often leads to inflammation of various organs of the reproductive system. Infection can lead to the development of infertility in women and impotence in men.

In the absence of treatment, the symptoms of brucellosis in a person become more pronounced - the musculoskeletal system can be deformed, and damage to the nervous system and heart leads to very dangerous complications, and sometimes to the death of the patient.

Possible complications due to the disease

We have already examined the symptoms of brucellosis in humans (a photo with the image of pathogenic microorganisms is given at the beginning of the article), features of the clinical picture in one form or another of the pathological process. According to statistics, in most cases, therapy ends successfully. But the infection can affect almost any organs, which sometimes leads to the development of dangerous complications.

• One of the most serious is endocarditis. Such an infectious lesion of the heart tissue often leads to disruption of the heart valves.
• Brucella often affects the joints, which can lead to the development of arthritis. Pathology is accompanied by swelling, severe pain and stiffness in the movements. In most cases, the pathological process covers small joints of the spine and wrists, knee and hip joints.
• As already mentioned, the infection often gets into the tissues of the reproductive system. In men, a similar process often leads to inflammation of the testicles and their appendages, which is fraught not only with unpleasant symptoms, but also with infertility.
• Dangerous is the infection of pregnant women. The activity of pathological bacteria sometimes leads to the appearance of various abnormalities of the fetus. Brucellosis often causes spontaneous abortion.
• The list of possible complications include inflammation of the liver and spleen. The defeat of these organs affects the work of the whole organism.
• The spread of infection to the tissues of the central nervous system is also dangerous. Complications include inflammation of the membranes of the brain, as well as encephalitis with all possible consequences.

Of course, brucellosis for humans can be dangerous. But statistics indicate that the disease very rarely ends fatally. The death of the patient is usually associated with the rapid development of endocarditis.

Diagnostic measures

Many people are wondering why brucellosis develops in humans. Photos of patients with a similar diagnosis, clinical features, treatment methods - this, of course, is important information. But first you need to properly diagnose the disease.

With such a pathology, an anamnesis is extremely important. It is very important to learn not only about the disorders that concern the patient, but also about his profession, place of residence, the likelihood of contact with an infected animal - you need to understand whether the patient is at risk.

Diagnosis of brucellosis in humans includes various procedures, in particular blood and urine tests, serotological reactions, immunofluorescence studies. For bacteriological culture, samples of cerebrospinal fluid and the contents of the lymph nodes are used. Some studies help to identify the pathogen itself, while others help to check the blood for the presence of specific antibodies that form against the background of brucellosis.

Treatment regimen

The choice of drugs depends largely on whether a person has certain symptoms. The treatment of brucellosis in humans must necessarily be comprehensive. Antibiotics such as Doxycycline, Rifampicin, Streptomycin and Gentamicin are used to fight the infection.

According to statistics, such drugs give a good effect only in laboratory conditions. In practice, only complex antibiotic therapy helps. For example, patients are often prescribed the simultaneous administration of Doxycycline and Streptomycin. Antibiotic treatment lasts about 4-6 weeks.

If bacterial endocarditis occurs, a third antibiotic may be introduced into the treatment regimen. Of course, such an aggressive therapy cannot but affect the work of the whole organism. That is why patients are advised to take pre- and probiotics (for example, Bifiform, Linex), as well as drugs to protect liver cells (Essential).

Symptomatic treatment is also carried out . For example, analgesics are used to relieve pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help control fever. With severe pain in the joints, patients are prescribed special ointments that eliminate pain and relieve swelling.

Corticosteroids with such a disease are used extremely rarely. Most often, they are introduced into the treatment regimen in the presence of meningitis and other inflammatory lesions of various structures of the nervous system.

When is surgery necessary?

You already know why brucellosis develops in humans. Signs and treatment in this case are closely related. For example, surgery is required if abscesses have formed in the joints and spine - they must be opened and all purulent contents removed.

The operation is also performed with damage to the heart valves against the background of rapidly progressing endocarditis. As you can see, surgical treatment is necessary only if the infection caused the development of dangerous complications.

Rehabilitation period

Even after proper treatment, some symptoms of brucellosis in a person still persist, and for several weeks. Their list is as follows.

• For another two months, joint pain may persist. It is usually difficult for a patient to walk quickly or climb stairs.
• The skin in the affected joints can sometimes swell.
• There is a certain emotional lability, increased irritability.
• It is possible and excessive sweating, both in the daytime and at night.

Such violations must be reported to the doctor. Sometimes a specialist may prescribe additional medications in order to alleviate the patient's condition.

Home Remedies

Immediately it is worth saying that any independent measures and traditional medicine can be used only with the permission of the doctor. Brucellosis is a dangerous disease that, if improperly treated, can lead to dangerous consequences, including disability and death.

• It is believed that regular baths of mineral water have a positive effect on the state of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Experts recommend periodically visiting sanatoriums, not to refuse special massage and mud applications, as this helps restore joint mobility.
• At home, it is recommended to add a decoction of pine needles to bathing water - this remedy has calming properties, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
• You can also prepare a medicine for internal use. To do this, you need to mix a tablespoon of black elderberry flowers, dioecious nettle leaves, bean pods. All ingredients must be crushed and mixed thoroughly. A tablespoon of the mixture is poured with two glasses of boiling water, covered with a lid and allowed to infuse. Strained liquid should be consumed four times a day, half a glass.
• Relieve inflammation and activate the immune system using another herbal supplement. You will need four tablespoons of birch leaves, five tablespoons of willow bark, a tablespoon of leaves of alder buckthorn. To prepare the medicine, three large tablespoons of the herbal mixture need to be poured with 500 ml of boiling water, and then heated on low heat for 20 minutes. After the broth has cooled, it can be filtered. Herbalists recommend taking a glass of medicine every two hours (you must first warm it up, you can sweeten it a little).
• Fresh juices will also help establish the body. In order to prepare a tasty and healthy medicine, you need to mix 750 ml of carrot and 350 ml of pumpkin juice. We mix these ingredients and take half a glass of medicine three times a day, preferably before meals.

Of course, such drugs can not replace full-fledged antibacterial therapy - these are only auxiliary agents that help accelerate the process of recovery of the body.

Preventive measures: how to protect yourself from infection?

It should be said right away that a vaccine for brucellosis in humans does not exist. That is why doctors recommend that you follow a few simple rules.

• It is important to observe the rules of personal hygiene, especially when it comes to contacts with pets. Agricultural workers should not forget about gloves and other protective equipment.
• Remember that food must be thoroughly washed and properly cooked. Experts also recommend abandoning the use of unpasteurized dairy products.
• Vaccination of pets is extremely important - this can significantly reduce the risk of infection. , , — .
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