Forgotten Diagnosis in Emergency Service : Tularemia

Abstract

Purpose: In this report, we describe eight tularemia cases who have been admitted to emergency department and treated with medical therapy. Material and Methods: Eight patients were admitted to our city hospital January - May 2012 with the complaints of swelling in the neck, sore throat and fever. Tularemia diagnosis was confirmed with the micro-agglutination test. Results: The median age of eight patients was 58 year and 50% of them were male. Swollen cervical lymph node (% 100) was the most common symptom in the tularemia patients. Other symptoms were sore throat, chills, weakness and fever. At physical examination there were lymphadenopathy at 8 patients, tonsillopharyngytis at one patient and fever at one patient. Patients with a diagnosis of tularemia were started antibiotic and surgical drainage were applied to three patients. Possible source of contamination were source water, rural areas and dead animal. Patients have been followed with medical therapy. Conclusion: Tularemia is most common in our country and with early diagnosis and antibacterial therapy complications could be reduced.