Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria Brucella. This disease is usually characterized by fever, joint pain, and fatigue. These symptoms can last from weeks to months.
Bacteria Brucella can enter through the eyes, skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, and digestive tract, then survive in body cells.
Bacteria Brucella can move from one organ to another through the bloodstream and lymphatic system. As a result, the infection that appears can be limited to certain organs or spread to other parts of the body.
Causes of Brucellosis
A person can get brucellosis in various ways, such as:
- Breathing air contaminated with bacteria Brucella
- Consuming raw or undercooked products, such as beef, milk, or cheese, from animals infected with the bacteria Brucella
- Touching the blood, sperm, or body fluids of an animal infected with the bacteria Brucella, especially if these body fluids enter the bloodstream through an open wound
Brucellosis is generally not spread between humans. However, in certain cases, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers who develop brucellosis can pass this disease on to their children. Although rare, brucellosis can also be transmitted through sex, as well as blood or bone marrow transfusions that have been contaminated with bacteria Brucella.
Brucellosis Risk Factors
Brucellosis can happen to anyone, but people with the following factors are at a higher risk of developing the disease:
- Have a weak immune system
- Visiting areas where there are many cases of brucellosis
- Work as a farmer, rancher, animal hunter and butcher
Symptoms of Brucellosis
Symptoms of brucellosis appear within days or months after infection. Symptoms can be the same as flu symptoms, namely:
- Fever
- Shivering
- Cough
- Tired easily
- Stomach ache
- Headache
- Back pain
- Muscle and joint pain
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Sweating at night
Symptoms of brucellosis may go away within a few weeks or months, but may recur. In some people, symptoms can last for years, even after treatment.
When to go to the doctor
Symptoms of brucellosis can be difficult to spot, especially in the early stages. Patients with brucellosis also often assume that the complaints they experience are symptoms of the common cold.
Therefore, check with your doctor if you have a sudden fever, accompanied by muscle aches and fatigue, especially if you have recently consumed raw animal products or had physical contact with an animal suspected of being infected.
Keep checking with your doctor if you come into contact with an infected animal, even if you don't have any symptoms. The doctor will monitor your condition for at least 6 months.
Brucellosis Diagnosis
The doctor will ask questions related to the patient's symptoms, followed by a physical examination. Next, the doctor will take a blood sample and a sample of the patient's bone marrow to check for antibodies to brucellosis in the laboratory.
To check whether the patient has experienced complications, the doctor will perform the following examinations:
- X-rays, to see if there are changes in the bones and joints
- CT scan or MRI, to check for abscesses (collections of pus) or inflammation in the brain and other body tissues
- Echocardiography, to detect infection or damage to the heart
- Culture of cerebrospinal fluid (brain and spinal fluid), to check for signs of inflammation of the brain and meningitis
Brucellosis Treatment
Treatment of brucellosis aims to relieve symptoms, prevent recurrence of infection, and reduce the risk of complications. Doctors will usually prescribe doxycycline with rifampicin to be taken for at least 6 weeks. Other types of antibiotics that may be prescribed include:
- Streptomycin
- Sulfamethoxazole
- Ciprofloxacin
- Tetracycline
It should be noted, there are 5–15% of cases of brucellosis that recur despite treatment. Usually, re-infection occurs 6 months after treatment and can be long-term (chronic).
Brucellosis Complications
Brucellosis can affect almost any part of the body, such as the central nervous system, reproductive system, and liver. If it persists in the long term, brucellosis can cause complications in one or more organs, such as:
- Infection of the inner lining of the heart wall (endocarditis)
- Infection and swelling of the spleen and liver
- Inflammation of the joints (arthritis), especially in the knees, hips, spine, and ankles and hands
- Inflammation and infection of the male genital tract and testes (epididymo-orchitis)
- Infections of the central nervous system, such as inflammation of the lining of the brain (meningitis) and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
- Miscarriage and birth defects
Prevention of Brucellosis
There are several ways that can be done to reduce the risk of developing brucellosis, namely:
- Cook the meat until it's completely cooked
- Don't eat unpasteurized dairy products
- Use gloves and protective clothing when you want to make contact with animals
- Vaccinate livestock and pets