THE DISABLING DISEASES: BRUCELLOSIS (UNDULANT FEVER)
There are several forms of undulant fever, an infectious disease that is known by various names. The word ‘undulant’ indicates that the fever comes in waves, or undulations, instead of being constant. Recently, all forms of the disease have been given the name ‘brucellosis,’ because they are all due to infections with some member of the germ family called Brucellaceae, which was named for Dr. David Bruce (1855-1931), the English bacteriologist, who discovered it.
Symptoms
The symptoms of brucellosis usually come on slowly and are rather indefinite, consisting of irregular fever, chills, sweating, and aches and pains in the joints and muscles. The death rate is not very high. However, it is rare for a person to recover after only one attack of the illness. As a rule, another attack follows the first after an interval, and this may be repeated almost indefinitely.
Transmission and prevention
Brucellosis is very rarely carried from one person to another. It is, however, constantly carried from animal to animal, and from animal to person. The animals that harbour the germ are chiefly domesticated goats, cattle, and hogs. Each species of animal has a particular kind of Brucella germ that is characteristic.
It is also possible to acquire brucellosis from contact with diseased animals or their carcasses. Farmers, veterinarians, slaughterhouse employees, and butchers are exposed to the infection, as well as housewives who handle infected meat in the kitchen.
The best way to prevent brucellosis is to eradicate the disease in animals. The danger of brucellosis is a powerful argument for universal pasteurization of public milk supplies. Infection by contact with diseased animals or their carcasses is less easy to prevent and is essentially a matter of industrial hygiene. Persons who are exposed to brucellosis in their jobs should be fully informed of the dangers and” should take precautions against unnecessary exposure.
Several of the antibiotics alone or in combination with sulpnonamides are extremely helpful in treatment. They are more effective in the early, acute stages than in the chronic form of the disease.
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