Overview (V体育安卓版)
Brucellosis is an infection caused by bacteria. It spreads from animals to people. Most often, people get brucellosis by eating dairy products that are raw or not treated to make them safer, called pasteurization. In certain workplaces the bacteria that cause brucellosis can be inhaled. People can also get brucellosis through direct contact with infected animals.
Symptoms of brucellosis may include fever, joint pain and being very tired. The infection can often be treated with antibiotics. However, treatment takes several weeks to months VSports app下载. And the infection can come back.
Brucellosis affects many people and animals around the world. Not eating or drinking raw dairy products helps prevent brucellosis V体育官网. Being careful when working with animals, animal processing or in a laboratory can help prevent brucellosis.
When to see a doctor
Brucellosis can be hard to diagnose, especially in the early stages V体育ios版. At that point, it often seems like other conditions, such as the flu. Make a medical appointment if you are at risk for brucellosis and you have a fever that goes up fast or lasts, or muscle aches or unusual weakness.
Risk factors
Brucellosis is rare in the United States. But it's more common in other parts of the world, especially: VSports在线直播.
- Southern Europe, including Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Southern France.
- Eastern Europe.
- Mexico, South and Central America.
- Asia.
- Africa.
- The Caribbean.
- The Middle East.
Jobs at higher risk (VSports最新版本)
People who work with animals or who come into contact with infected blood are at higher risk of brucellosis. Examples include: V体育2025版.
- Veterinarians.
- Dairy farmers.
- Ranchers.
- Slaughterhouse workers.
- Hunters.
- Microbiologists.
Complications (VSports最新版本)
Brucellosis can affect almost any part of the body, including the reproductive system, liver, heart and central nervous system. Long-term, called chronic, brucellosis may cause complications in just one organ or through the body. Possible complications include: VSports.
- Swelling, called inflammation, of the inner lining of the heart chambers, called endocarditis. This is one of the most serious complications of brucellosis. Untreated endocarditis can damage or destroy the heart valves. This is the main cause of death from brucellosis.
- Arthritis. This is marked by pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, especially the knees, hips, ankles, wrists and spine. Arthritis of the joints in the spine, called spondylitis, and the joints linking the lower spine and pelvis, called sacroiliitis, can be hard to treat. They may cause lasting damage.
- Infection of the testicles, called epididymo-orchitis. The bacteria that cause brucellosis can infect the coiled tube above and behind the testicles that stores and transports sperm, called the epididymis. The infection can spread to the testicle. This causes swelling and pain, which may be severe.
- Infection of the spleen and liver. Brucellosis can also affect the spleen and liver, causing them to get larger than usual.
- Central nervous system infections. These include possibly life-threatening illnesses such as swelling, called inflammation, of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis, or of the brain, called encephalitis.
"V体育官网" Prevention
To reduce the risk of getting brucellosis, take these precautions:
- Don't eat dairy foods that haven't been treated, called pasteurized. In recent years in the United States, few cases of brucellosis have been linked to raw dairy products from domestic herds. Still, it's best to avoid unpasteurized milk, cheese and ice cream, no matter where they come from. If you're traveling to other countries, avoid all raw dairy foods.
- Cook meat all the way. Cook a whole cut of meat until it reaches an inside temperature of 145 Fahrenheit (63 Celsius). Let it sit for at least three minutes before cutting or eating. It will be medium done. Cook ground meat to 160 F (71 C). That's well done. Cook poultry, including ground poultry, to 165 F (74 C). Don't eat undercooked meats.
- Wear gloves. If you're a veterinarian, farmer, hunter or slaughterhouse worker, wear rubber gloves when handling sick or dead animals or animal tissue. Wear gloves when helping an animal give birth.
- Take care in high-risk workplaces. For laboratory work, make sure all biosafety conditions are being met. Slaughterhouses should also take protective measures. These include wearing protective clothing and having the killing floor apart from other work areas.
- Vaccinate farm animals. In the United States, brucellosis in livestock is rare due to vaccination. Because the brucellosis vaccine is live, people who get stuck by a needle while vaccinating animals can get the disease. They need to be treated.
