Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis.[4] Symptoms may include fever, skin ulcers, and enlarged lymph nodes.[3] Occasionally, a form that results in pneumonia or a throat infection may occur.[3]
The bacterium is typically spread by ticks, deer flies, or contact with infected animals.[4] It may also be spread by drinking contaminated water or breathing in contaminated dust.[4] It does not spread directly between people.[8]Diagnosis is by blood tests or cultures of the infected site.[5][9]
Prevention is by using insect repellent, wearing long pants, rapidly removing ticks, and not disturbing dead animals.[6] Treatment is typically with the antibiotic streptomycin.[9] Gentamicin, doxycycline, or ciprofloxacin may also be used.[5]
Between the 1970s and 2015, around 200 cases were reported in the United States a year.[7] Males are affected more often than females.[7] It occurs most frequently in the young and the middle aged.[7] In the United States, most cases occur in the summer.[7] The disease is named after Tulare County, California, where the disease was discovered in 1911.[10] A number of other animals, such as rabbits, may also be infected.[4]
| Tularemia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Tularaemia, Pahvant Valley plague,[1]rabbit fever,[1] deer fly fever, Ohara's fever[2] |
 | |
| A tularemia lesion on the back of the right hand | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| Symptoms | Fever, skin ulcer, large lymph nodes[3] |
| Causes | Francisella tularensis (spread by ticks, deer flies, contact with infected animals)[4] |
| Diagnostic method | Blood tests, microbial culture[5] |
| Prevention | Insect repellent, wearing long pants, rapidly removing ticks, not disturbing dead animals[6] |
| Medication | Streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin[5] |
| Prognosis | Generally good with treatment[4] |
| Frequency | ~200 cases per year (US)[7] |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tularemia
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