As experts of the Lviv Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention found out during the epidural investigation, the man worked as a sheep shearer on various farms in Spain for more than 20 years.
The disease began to bother me since 2013. He consulted allergists, dermatologists, and rheumatologists with complaints about rashes, dermatitis, and joint pain.
"For the first time, the man sought help back in Spain, but as soon as the symptoms passed, the treatment ended there. This time, the man was worried about ulcers in the joints of both legs. He turned to one of the clinics in Lviv. Doctors suspected brucellosis and sent the patient's blood serum to the Lviv Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention for testing. The diagnosis of brucellosis was confirmed in the laboratory," said Iryna Fesenko, head of the Center's epidemiology department.
What should you know about brucellosis?
Brucellosis is a serious infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans from a sick animal. Brucellosis affects the heart, joints and other organs.
The disease is caused by the bacterium Brucella. It is rare in our country. Brucellosis is more common in Africa, Central and South America, in some countries of Asia and Europe, in particular, in the Mediterranean countries.
Brucella is transmitted from sick animals through contact. Mostly, these are goats, sheep, cows, pigs, there may be dogs. A person can become infected by consuming contaminated products - raw milk, cheese, cottage cheese, as well as poorly fried meat.
People also become infected when processing leather and wool, caring for animals. Through microtraumas on the skin and mucous membranes of the digestive organs, as well as through dust on farms, the pathogen can enter the body.
How is brucellosis manifested? The incubation period of brucellosis is from 1 to 4 weeks, it can last even longer. The following symptoms may appear: headache, joint and muscle pain, muscle weakness, fever, swelling, sweating and even ulcers in the joint area.
How to prevent brucellosis? Doctors advise not to consume raw milk and dairy products, to thermally process meat, not to consume meat and dairy products from spontaneous markets and of unknown origin.
For diagnosis in case of suspicion, contact your family doctor.
Comments