Causes and risk factors
Tularaemia is spread through direct contact with infected animals, insect bites, airborne bacteria, contaminated food. Activities like hunting, gardening, studying veterinary medicine are predisposing factors.
Clinical presentation
Constitutional symptoms like fever, lethargy, loss of appetite are seen. Redness of eyes and face, sore throat, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhoea, enlarged lymph nodes are the signs of tularaemia. If the organism travels to different organs like liver, spleen, lungs then hepatomegaly, spleenomegaly, pneumonia can occur.
Investigation
Medical history by the patient especially of occupation or exposure to the causative factor and Clinical examination by the doctor helps in diagnosis. Blood or sputum culture For Detection of bacteria, blood tests to identify the antibodies to the bacteria, Chest X ray for pneumonia.
Treatment
A course of oral or intramuscular injection of antibiotics helps in treating tularaemia. Further treatment is recommended in case of complications like meningitis or pneumonia.
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating tularaemia. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating tularaemia.
