BRUCELLOSIS-AN UNDER-ESTIMATED CAUSE OF ARTHRALGIA & MUSCULAR PAINS IN GENERAL POPULATION

Authors

  • Inayat Ullah Diju

Abstract

Background: Muscular pains, arthralgias and arthritis are among the most common symptoms of the
patients attending various OPDs and private clinics every day. While the symptoms could be due to a
broad spectrum of the illnesses; the infection with Brucella, often overlooked, is one among such
causes. The objective of present study is to determine the extent to which this infection contributes
towards the presence of such symptoms, and how important it is to rule out this treatable cause in our
society, before labelling and treating these as non-specific aches and pains. Methods: This prospective
study was conducted on 280 patients at a registered medical specialist clinic between May 2006 and
June 2008. The patients of each gender from age 15 years onwards having the symptoms of chronic
muscular pains, backache, and arthralgias etc. were included in the study. The exclusion criteria were
clear cut bone and joint diseases, connective tissue and systemic disorders. The patients were subjected
to evaluation by history taking that especially looked into their involvement with cattle look-after and
also the use of milk and other dairy items. The investigations included agglutination test for Brucella.
The positive cases were treated and the results followed for satisfactory or mild responses. Results: Out
of 280 cases 55 (19.64%) were suffering from infection with Brucella. The above patients had received
non-specific treatment with analgesics or even steroids with no benefit. The young females
outnumbered males, and rural cases had more incidence than urban; and there was a slight increase in
those cases who handled the cattle at home as compared to those who did not. Conclusion: In absence
of a good veterinary care of live stock in societies like that of Pakistan , it becomes important to rule
out Brucellosis, before labelling the symptoms of a patient as simple, non specific aches and pains;
and therefore depriving the patient of a treatable disease if he had one.
Keywords: Brucellosis, Myalgias, Arthralgias, Fever, Dairy, Cattle

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Published

2009-06-01

How to Cite

Diju, I. U. (2009). BRUCELLOSIS-AN UNDER-ESTIMATED CAUSE OF ARTHRALGIA & MUSCULAR PAINS IN GENERAL POPULATION. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, 21(2), 128–131. Retrieved from https://jamc.ayubmed.edu.pk/index.php/jamc/article/view/3643

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (2009): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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