A case report of ulceroglandular tularemia

Tularemia, caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, is a zoonotic disease that has been reported in many countries across the globe. It may manifest in many forms, like pneumonic, oropharyngeal, glandular, ulceroglandular, or oculoglandular. In Poland, one of the most common types of tularemia is ulceroglandular. Typical symptoms of ulceroglandular tularemia include painful ulcers at the site of the insect or animal bite, along with systemic flu-like symptoms. Tularemia is generally effectively treated with appropriate antibiotics, however, frequent misdiagnosis and subsequent improper treatment remain significant clinical challenges. We present a case of a 54-year-old patient diagnosed with the ulceroglandular form of tularemia. Physicians in endemic areas are obliged to be aware of a high index of suspicion for tularemia. It should be included in the differential diagnosis when evaluating patients presenting with flu-like symptoms, lymphadenopathy, and non-healing ulcers.