Medical Health Encyclopedia

Tularemia

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Tularemia

Definition:

Tularemia is an infection common in wild rodents caused by the organism Francisella tularensis and transmitted to humans by contact with animal tissues or ticks.

Alternative Names:
Deerfly fever; Rabbit fever

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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Humans can contract tularemia in the following ways:

• direct contact with an infected animal or carcass via broken skin
• the bite of an infected flea or tick
• ingesting infected meat (rare)

Endemic areas (areas where the disorder occurs most commonly) include North America and parts of Europe and Asia. The illness may continue for several weeks after the onset of symptoms.

Some people may develop an atypical pneumonia. Risk factors include recent exposure to rabbits or recent a tick bite. The disease is very rare in the United States.

Francisella tularensis is considered a potential bioterrorism agent. An aerosol release would be the most likely method and would result in a large number of pneumonia cases several weeks after exposure.

References:

Cronquist SD. Tularemia: the disease and the weapon.  Dermatol Clin. 2004; 22(3): 313-20, vi-vii.

Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier; 2003:917.

Cohen J, Powderly WG. Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier; 2004:1649-1653.

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