| ia is a rare infectious disease that can attack the | | | | the infection siteâusually the finger, arm, |
| skin, eyes and lungs. Fewer than 200 cases of | | | | eye, or roof of the mouthâexcept in the |
| tularemia are reported annually in the United | | | | glandular and typhoidal types of tularemia. The |
| States â mainly in western and | | | | blister rapidly fills with pus and opens to form a |
| south-central states. | | | | sore. |
| Tularemia spreads to humans through several | | | | Another possible symptoms include skin ulcers, |
| routes, including insect bites and direct exposure | | | | swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, |
| to an infected animal. Highly contagious and | | | | sore throat, mouth sores, diarrhea or pneumonia. |
| potentially fatal if not treated, tularemia has been | | | | If the bacteria are inhaled, symptoms can include |
| identified as a possible bioweapon. If diagnosed | | | | abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle |
| early, doctors can usually treat tularemia | | | | aches, joint pain, dry cough, and progressive |
| effectively with antibiotics. | | | | weakness. People with pneumonia can develop |
| It is a serious infectious disease caused by the | | | | chest pain, difficulty breathing, bloody sputum, and |
| bacterium Francisella tularensis. F. tularensis is a | | | | respiratory failure. |
| small gram-negative non-motile coccobacillus. The | | | | Tularemia can be fatal if the person is not treated |
| bacterium has several subspecies with varying | | | | with appropriate antibiotics. |
| degrees of virulence. | | | | Treatment of tularemia: |
| The most important of those is F. tularensis | | | | The goal of treatment is to cure the infection |
| tularensis (Type A), which is found in lagomorphs | | | | with antibiotic treatment. Streptomycin and |
| in North America and is highly virulent for humans | | | | tetracycline are commonly used to treat this |
| and domestic rabbits. F. tularensis palaearctica | | | | infection. Once daily gentamycin treatment has |
| (Type B) occurs mainly in aquatic rodents | | | | been tried with excellent results as an alternative |
| (beavers, muskrats) in North America and in | | | | therapy to streptomycin, though only a few |
| hares and small rodents in northern Eurasia. | | | | cases have been studied to date. |
| Causes of tularemia: | | | | Preventive measures: |
| Humans can contract tularemia in the following | | | | Several precautions can protect individuals from |
| ways: | | | | tularemia. |
| Direct contact, through a break in the skin, with | | | | Avoid drinking, bathing, swimming or working in |
| an infected animal or its carcass | | | | untreated water where infection may be |
| The bite of an infected tick, horsefly, or mosquito | | | | common among wild animals. |
| Eating infected meat (rare) | | | | Use impervious gloves when skinning or handling |
| How is tularemia spread? | | | | animals, especially rabbits. |
| Many routes of human exposure to tularemia are | | | | Cook the meat of wild rabbits and rodents |
| known to exist. The common routes include | | | | thoroughly. |
| inoculation of the skin or mucous membranes with | | | | Avoid being bitten by deer flies and ticks. |
| blood or tissue while handling infected animals, | | | | Read about Breast Enlargement and Breast |
| bites from infected deer flies or ticks, or handling | | | | Enhancement. Also read about Natural Remedies, |
| or eating insufficiently cooked rabbit meat. Less | | | | Home Remedies, Herbal Remedies and Beauty |
| common means of spread are drinking | | | | Tips, Makeup Tips, Skin Care Tips |
| contaminated water, inhaling dust from | | | | Report this article |
| contaminated soil or handling contaminated pelts | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| or paws of animals. | | | | Source: |
| Symptom of tularemia: | | | | Republish this article |
| The symptoms start suddenly 1 to 10 | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
| daysâusually 2 to 4 daysâafter | | | | >> Should a person with hemochromotosis |
| contact with the bacterium. | | | | use Enamel coated cast iron pans? |
| Initial symptoms include headaches, chills, nausea, | | | | >> Should a person with hemochromotosis |
| vomiting, a fever of up to 104° F, and | | | | use Enamel coated cast iron pans? |
| severe exhaustion. Extreme weakness, recurring | | | | >> Photochemotherapy |
| chills, and profuse drenching sweats develop. | | | | >> While cooking with fresh garlic to lower |
| In 24 to 48 hours, an inflamed blister appears at | | | | blood ... |