Context: An eight-year-old girl from Kerala died after undergoing around two months of treatment for brucellosis.
About Brucellosis
- As Per World Health Organisation (WHO) Brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species.
- It primarily affects cattle, swine, goats, sheep, and dogs.
- Human-to-human transmission is rare.
Public Health Impact:
- Brucellosis can lead to complications such as joint or spine infections, and affect the heart, eyes, kidneys, or lungs.
- Brucella spondylitis, a form of arthritis, typically occurs weeks after infection, often affecting the lumbar spine.
- It damages intervertebral disks and vertebrae but can be treated with antibiotics and joint immobilization.
Individuals at Risk for Brucellosis:
- Affects people of all ages and both sexes.
- Children are generally more resistant to brucellosis than adults.
- Most cases occur due to the consumption of raw milk or dairy products, particularly from sheep and goats.
- People working in the livestock sector, such as farmers, Veterinarians and butchers are at higher risk.
Symptoms: Fever, weakness, weight loss, and general a feeling of discomfort are some of the common symptoms.
Treatment: It is usually treated with antibiotics (Doxycycline)and joint immobilization.