Retrospectively investigation of cates with brucellosis for epidemiological clinical and laboratorial features

Brucellosis which is seen as endemic in our country and as a wide range of clinical manifestations is considered in differential diagnosis of many diseases. It is usually diagnosed in patients with clinical signs and symptoms by positive Serum Tube Agglutination test. Reproductive rate of the agent has been increased and its isolation time has been decreased by currently used BACTEC blood culture methods. Its mortality is low in untreated patients and the most important causes of death in these patients are endocarditis and meningitis.Between January 1994 and December 2008, 328 brucellosis cases who were treated and followed-up as inpatient or outpatient were evaluated retrospectively. Cases were evaluated according to their distribution of gender and age, the raw milk and dairy products consumption (especially cheese made from raw milk), dealing with animals, duration of complaints, presenting symptoms, examination and laboratory findings, diagnosis and treatments. In presence of clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis was put with positive Serum Tube Agglutination test in all cases. Reproductive rate of blood cultures were detected.One hundred sixty six (50,6%) of 328 brucellosis cases were male, 162 cases (49,4%) were female. The mean age of the patients was found 34,6±15,06 (range 15-77 years). In our patients, the use of milk and dairy products were seen as prominent transmission finding. 213 patients (64,9%) had the use of milk and dairy products. Laboratory transmission was diagnosed in four cases. When patients clinical forms were examined, 241 cases (73,5%), 46 cases (14%), 17 cases (5,2%), 24 cases (7,3%) were found in acute, subacute, chronic and relapse form, respectively. 76,5% of cases were diagnosed in spring and summer.When clinical and laboratory findings were analyzed; rates of fever, perspiration, arthralgia, fatigue, chills, low back pain, anorexia, dorsalgia and hip pain, headache, myalgia, weight loss, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy were found as 278 (84,8%), 175 (53%), 238 (72,6%), 172 (52,4%), 141 (43%), 123 (37,5%), 101 (30,8%), 76 (23,2%), 74 (22,6%), 59 (18%), 50 (15,2%), 79 (24,1%), 70 (21,3%), 47 (14,3%), respectively.The rate of complication development were calculated as 62 (18,9%) and the most frequent complication was osteoarticuler complications. The most frequent complication was seen in 21 patients (6,4%) with spondylodiscitis. The blood cultures were made in our all patients. Reproduction rate in blood cultures was found as 50%.Keywords: Brucellosis, Serum tube agglutination test, Fever