What is Tularemia? 🐰🦗
Tularemia, also called “rabbit fever,” is a rare infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It primarily affects animals like rabbits, rodents, and insects, but can also infect humans.
How is Tularemia Transmitted?
Humans can get tularemia through:
- Bites from infected ticks or deer flies 🕷️🐝
- Handling infected animals (especially rabbits or rodents) without proper protection 🐇
- Ingesting contaminated food or water 💧🍽️
- Inhaling contaminated dust or aerosols (such as during farming or landscaping)
Symptoms of Tularemia
Symptoms depend on the route of infection but commonly include:
- Sudden fever and chills 🌡️
- Headache and muscle aches 🤕💪
- Swollen and painful lymph nodes near the infection site (buboes) 🦵🦠
- Ulcer or sore at the site of infection 🩹
- Respiratory symptoms like cough or chest pain if inhaled infection
- Fatigue and weakness 😴
Types of Tularemia
- Ulceroglandular: Most common; skin ulcer with swollen lymph nodes
- Glandular: Swollen lymph nodes without an ulcer
- Oculoglandular: Eye infection causing redness and swelling
- Oropharyngeal: Sore throat, mouth ulcers, and swollen lymph nodes
- Pneumonic: Lung infection causing cough and difficulty breathing
- Typhoidal: Severe systemic illness without localized symptoms
Diagnosis
- Blood tests and cultures to detect Francisella tularensis
- Serologic (antibody) tests
- Patient history and symptoms
Treatment
- Effective antibiotics include streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, or ciprofloxacin
- Early treatment is important to prevent complications
Prevention
- Use insect repellents and wear protective clothing outdoors 🧴👕
- Avoid handling wild animals without gloves 🧤
- Cook game meat thoroughly
- Practice good hygiene and sanitation