Symptoms & Signs
Acute brucellosis may begin with mild flu-like symptoms or symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Chills
- Excessive sweating
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Joint pain
- Weakness
- Weight loss
Classically, high fever spikes occur every afternoon. “Undulant” fever derives its name from this up-and-down fever.
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
- Muscle pain
- Swollen glands
The illness may be chronic and persist for years.
Diagnosis & Tests
- Blood culture
- Clean catch urine culture
- CSF culture
- Bone marrow culture
- Serology detecting brucellosis antigen
This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:
- Quantitative immunoglobulins (nephelometry)
- Serum immunoelectrophoresis
- Febrile/cold agglutinins
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Brucellosis : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
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Brucellosis : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
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Brucellosis : Treatment
Review Date : 9/3/2008
Reviewed By : D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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