overview
Tularemia is a rare infectious disease. Also known as rabbit fever or stag fly fever, it usually affects the skin, eyes, lymph nodes, and lungs. Tularemia is caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis.
- The disease mainly affects rabbits, hares, and rodents such as muskrats and squirrels. Tularemia can also infect birds, sheep, and pets such as dogs, cats, and hamsters.
- Tularemia spreads to humans in a number of ways, including insect bites and direct exposure to an infected animal. Tularemia is highly contagious and potentially fatal but, if diagnosed early, can usually be effectively treated with certain antibiotics.Deer-fly fever (Tularemia) treatment hyderabad
symptom
Most people at risk for tularemia who get sick usually do so within three to five days, although it can take up to 21 days. There are different types of tularemia, and the type you get depends on how and where the bacteria get into your body. Each type of tularemia has its own set of symptoms.
The reasons
Tularemia does not occur naturally in humans and is not known to pass from person to person. However, tularemia is widespread worldwide, especially in rural areas, as many mammals, birds, and insects are infected with F. tularensis. The organism can live in soil, water and dead animals for weeks.Deer-fly fever (Tularemia) treatment hyderabad
- Unlike some infectious diseases that only spread from animals to humans in one direction, tularemia has multiple modes of transmission.
Risk factors
Although anyone can develop tularemia at any age, doing certain jobs or activities, or living in certain areas is at greater risk.
- Live or visit certain regions
- Tularemia has been reported in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Europe. In the United States, it is generally more common in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, although there were outbreaks in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming in 2015. Tularemia has also been reported in parts of Massachusetts, including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Complications
If left untreated, tularemia can be fatal. Other possible complications are:
- Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia). Pneumonia can lead to respiratory failure – a condition where the lungs don’t take in enough oxygen, don’t release enough carbon dioxide, or both.
- Infection around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Meningitis is a severe and sometimes fatal infection of the fluid and the membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord.
- Irritation around the heart (pericarditis). This is swelling and irritation of the thin membrane that surrounds the heart (the pericardium).Deer-fly fever (Tularemia) treatment hyderabad
Prevention
No vaccine for tularemia is currently available. If you work in a high-risk profession or live in an area where tularemia is present, these steps can help reduce your risk of infection:
- Protect yourself from insects. Tularemia in the United States is often associated with a tick bite. In other parts of the world, tularemia is more commonly transmitted through mosquito bites.
- If you spend time in tick or mosquito-infested areas, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, tuck your pants in your socks, and use a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and neck. Use an insect repellent that contains 20% to 30% DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535. However, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Apply insect repellent in moderation and rinse off at the end of the day.
- Check for ticks often and remove them immediately if you find any. Also, be sure to check out your pets.Deer-fly fever (Tularemia) treatment hyderabad
