BRUCELLOSIS

STUDY OF 200 CASES OF BRUCELLOSIS

Abstract

Objectives: Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases and is still
a great health problem in Middle East, the Mediterranean and South Asia. The aim of this study
was to evaluate epidemiological and clinical features of brucellosis. Study Design: Crosssectional
study. Period: 1st Jan 2015 to 31st Dec 2015. Setting: Registered medical specialist
clinic in a rural area of District Mansehra of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Materials
and Methods: In this study, two hundred adult patients with brucellosis were included from a
registered medical specialist clinic in Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of
Pakistan, Diagnosis of brucellosis was made using Standard Tube Agglutination test (STA).
Epidemiological and clinical characteristics were evaluated. Results: Out of two hundred
patients with brucellosis, 64% were female and 36% male. Fever was the most common
symptom (84%), followed by low backache (76%), arthralgias (66%), and headache (59%).
Hepatomegaly was seen in 18% while splenomegaly was present in 28%. Use of unpasteurized
milk and dairy products was present in 66% of patients while 36% of patients were involved in
animal care. Conclusion: Brucellosis should always be considered in patients presenting with
fever, low backache, joint pains and headache in endemic areas.