Analyses of tularemia cases and their long-term results

Abstract

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease and endemic in the northern hemisphere. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of tularemia patients, and to re-analyze their lymphadenopathy during the follow-up. The patients who were diagnosed with tularemia were reviewed. They were invited for the long term, physical and radiological evaluations. 69.8% patients had lived in rural areas. 54.7% patients were associated with animal husbandry, the 18.9% had contact with rodents. The most common form was the glandular type (62.3%). The frequency of granulomatous lymphadenitis was significantly higher in patients diagnosed later than 30 days from the onset of symptoms. Lymphadenopathy was undetectable in 61.5% patients, its severity was reduced in 38.4% patients compared to its state at the admission. In rural areas, avoiding contact with wild animals can ensure the protection from the pathogen. Public communities should be made aware of the disease.