[Tularaemia - a forgotten disease? Own experience]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Bacteriology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Tularaemia is an acute, zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis, a Gram-negative bacillus.
• It poses an ongoing epidemiological concern in certain regions, with stable prevalence in Scandinavia and a slight increase in Poland since 2006.

Observation:

• Transmission primarily occurs through tick bites or direct contact with infected animals.
• The ulceroglandular form, characterized by fever, lymphadenopathy, and skin ulceration, accounts for 95% of European cases.
• Atypical disease courses and resistance to empirical treatments complicate diagnosis and management.

Findings:

• The study highlights tularaemia as a significant animal-borne infectious disease.
• It emphasizes the importance of considering tularaemia in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy, particularly in cases with atypical features or poor response to antibiotics.
• A case of ulceroglandular tularaemia in a child illustrates diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Implications:

• Physicians should consider tularaemia in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy, especially when symptoms are unusual or unresponsive to standard treatment.
• Increased awareness and timely diagnosis are essential for effective management of tularaemia.
• This study underscores the need for continued surveillance and research into tularaemia's epidemiology and treatment.