Brucellosis: Symptoms and Treatment

Brucellosis is an infectious disease primarily transmitted through sheep; cattle and pigs can also transmit this disease to humans. Individuals engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry must pay special attention to brucellosis—particularly its clinical manifestations—so that they can promptly recognize similar symptoms and seek timely, active treatment. So, what are the symptoms and treatment options for brucellosis? The following section addresses these questions.

Symptoms of Brucellosis

Clinical manifestations vary widely and lack specificity; symptom severity ranges from mild to severe, and some cases may even be afebrile. The disease course is typically divided into acute and subacute phases: the subacute phase lasts 3–6 months. Most patients experience an insidious onset, while only 10%–30% present with abrupt, acute illness. A minority of patients exhibit prodromal symptoms lasting one to several days—including fatigue, insomnia, low-grade fever, anorexia, and upper respiratory tract inflammation. The principal clinical features include fever, profuse sweating, arthralgia, fatigue, and orchitis (testicular swelling and pain). When the disease persists beyond six months, it may evolve from the acute phase or occur without any preceding acute illness. During this chronic phase, symptoms remain diverse and nonspecific, often mimicking neurosis: fatigue, hyperhidrosis, headache, depression, irritability, insomnia, and generalized body pain are common.

Treatment of Brucellosis

1. General Supportive Care

Patients with brucellosis generally require bed rest, a nutritionally rich diet, and adequate fluid intake. For high fever, intravenous hydration and antipyretic-analgesic agents may be administered. Additionally, glucocorticoids (e.g., adrenal corticosteroids) may be used in severe cases—such as those presenting with severe toxemia, marked testicular swelling, serious cardiac or cerebral involvement, or pancytopenia.

2. Antimicrobial Therapy

To enhance therapeutic efficacy, combination antimicrobial regimens are recommended. Since Brucella species reside intracellularly, combined therapy with streptomycin and tetracycline is commonly employed. However, strict medical supervision is essential during treatment to prevent disease exacerbation or adverse effects on health and recovery.

3. Surgical Intervention

Surgery is indicated for bacterial synovitis, arthritis, or osteomyelitis. Abscesses may require surgical drainage. In cases of osteomyelitis, thorough debridement is necessary, followed by prolonged antimicrobial therapy. Besides initial tetracycline–streptomycin combination therapy, alternative regimens such as chloramphenicol plus gentamicin may be considered. Spinal or intervertebral disc infections typically do not require surgical drainage.

The above outlines the key symptoms and treatment approaches for brucellosis. We hope this information proves helpful to you.