From the Guidelines
Brucellosis symptoms can range from an acute febrile illness to a chronic low-grade relapsing fever, often presenting with lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly, as well as osteoarticular disease, including septic arthritis and spondylitis 1. The clinical presentation of brucellosis can vary, but common symptoms include:
- Fever, which is the most common presentation
- Rigors
- Lymphadenopathy
- Hepatomegaly
- Splenomegaly
- Osteoarticular disease, such as septic arthritis affecting the large joints (knees, hips, ankles, and wrists) or sacroiliitis
- Spondylitis, often affecting the lumbar spine and leading to long-term damage Other complications of brucellosis include:
- Epididymo-orchitis
- Septic encephalitis
- Brain abscesses
- Endocarditis, which often affects the aortic valve and requires early surgery 1. It is essential to note that prompt medical attention is crucial in managing brucellosis, as early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve outcomes and prevent complications.
From the Research
Brucellosis Symptoms
- Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease with high morbidity, often affecting middle-aged adults and young people 2
- Patients with brucellosis tend to have non-specific symptoms, including:
- Fever
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Joint pain
- Myalgia
- The disease can affect various organs and tissues, with the osteoarticular system being one of the most commonly affected systems in humans 2
- Common complaints among patients with brucellosis include back pain and sciatica radiculopathy, especially in cases of spondylitis and sacroiliitis 2
Clinical Forms of Brucellosis
- Osteoarticular Brucellosis (OB) is a common clinical form, with a reported prevalence of 2-77% 2
- Other clinical forms include:
- Osteomyelitis
- Spondylitis
- Sacroiliitis
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Spondylitis and spondylodiscitis are the most frequent complications, often affecting the lumbar and low thoracic vertebrae 2
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Brucellosis is diagnosed with clinical inflammatory signs, positive serological tests, and positive blood/synovial fluids cultures 2
- Serological tests measure the total amount of IgM/IgG antibodies, with a standard agglutination test (SAT) titer ≥1:160 indicating a diagnosis of brucellosis 2
- Treatment typically involves multiple antibiotics, such as doxycycline, streptomycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and rifampicin 2, 3, 4, 5
- The recommended regimens for treatment of brucella involve two or three antibiotics combinations, with no standard treatment and physicians prescribing drugs based on the conditions of the disease 2