Tularemia can cause lymphadenitis

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Tularemia can cause lymphadenitis with many forms such as lymphatic, abdominal or intestinal, pulmonary (bronchitis, pneumonia), disseminated or primary bacteremia or pharyngeal lymphadenopathy. There are different clinical manifestations depending on the type of lymph node.

1. What is Tularemia?

Tularemia, also known as tularemia, is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. This type of bacillus is located in the intestinal tract, survives at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, the bacteria lives in moist soil and water for more than 4 months, 10 degrees Celsius for more than 9 months and lives for more than 3 months in milk... This bacteria is usually easily killed by disinfectants such as chloramine, lysol, crezol...
The disease can be transmitted through a bite of fleas or flies living on deer. Several species of fleas can transmit tularemia to humans including the dog flea, the forest flea, or the lone star flea. In addition, transmission to humans can also occur when we touch or butcher or eat animals infected with Tularemia. In rare cases, the disease can be transmitted to humans when we drink contaminated water or breathe in contaminated dust containing this bacteria.
In terms of symptoms, the disease can cause sudden fever, headache and nausea. There is a red papule at the wound site and that site will quickly become an ulcer. In addition, the patient also has some symptoms such as:
The lymph nodes are swollen, painful, and the lymph nodes may also be festering. The initial lesions usually appear on the extremities or in the eyes. Then there are signs of bacterial pneumonia that comes from the blood or from inhalation of bacterial substances. The disease can be spread to others through the respiratory tract. In case, if the patient eats or drinks food or drink containing Francisella tularensis bacteria, symptoms of gastroenteritis, lethargy, and delirium may appear. Splenomegaly, skin rash, joint pain and severe fatigue in all forms. If the bacteria enter through the bloodstream, it can cause the patient to develop meningitis, perisplenic inflammation, pneumonia, osteomyelitis and pericarditis.

2. Tularemia can cause lymphadenitis

Tularemia can cause lymphadenitis with many forms such as lymph node, ulcerative lymph node, ocular lymph node, abdominal or intestinal form, pulmonary form (bronchitis, pneumonia), disseminated or primary sepsis or lymphadenopathy throat. Depending on the lymph node type, there are different clinical manifestations as follows:
Lymphoma caused by percutaneous infection With this lymph node type, the patient will appear lymphadenitis at the place where this bacteria invades. From the 2nd - 3rd day, the lymph nodes will start to swell and be very painful, the lymph nodes will enlarge quickly (maybe as big as an egg). However, in most cases, after 1 - 4 months, the lymph nodes will return to normal, or it is also possible that the lymph nodes will turn pus, soften, and finally burst pus after 3-4 months. The pus of the lymph nodes is relatively dense, milky white, odorless, and on examination of the pus, bacteria can be seen. Lymph nodes after rupture will heal very slowly and leave hard scars.
In this lymph node type, there may be one or more lymph nodes, lymph nodes usually appear in the armpits, groin, thighs, but if infected through food, the lymph nodes appear in the neck, under the jaw, and if there is sepsis, the lymph nodes will appear. will appear in many places. In addition to symptoms of painful swollen lymph nodes, patients are often accompanied by high fever and systemic toxicity.
Ulcerative lymphadenitis arises due to bacteria entering through the site of the skin being rubbed or through the sting. At the site of the sting, after 1 - 2 days, it will form a burning and blistering nodule, accompanied by pustules, forming crater-like sores. In this lymphadenopathy, the patient has little pain, the edge of the ulcer is raised and relatively hard, the surface of the ulcer is covered with a dark membrane, and the surrounding is white. There may be lymphadenitis around the ulcer.
Ocular lymphadenopathy This is the lymphadenopathy that appears when bacteria penetrate through the eye mucosa, thereby causing severe conjunctivitis, blistering and mucosal ulcers causing fluid to drain, thick yellow pus.
Ulcers are usually about 0.25cm wide. The lymph nodes also appear under the jaw, the parotid lymph nodes, the swollen lymph nodes in the neck make the patient feel pain. The condition of the whole body is very serious, in case both eyes are damaged, the patient is likely to die on the 6th - 8th day of the disease.
Pharyngeal ganglion The cause of pharyngeal ganglion is due to bacteria entering through the mouth. Symptoms of the disease are sore throat, red throat; difficulty swallowing; The tonsils are enlarged and edematous, and the face is covered with a milky white film (this membrane is difficult to remove but does not grow beyond the limit of the tonsils). Patients often appear more submandibular, cervical, and parotid lymph nodes, these nodes often turn pus, swell and progress for a long time.
Abdominal lymphadenopathy Abdominal lymphadenopathy is usually caused by bacteria entering the same food, thereby leading to swelling of the mesenteric lymph nodes, irritation of the peritoneal cavity, causing the patient to have severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Fatigue
Pulmonary lymphadenopathy Pulmonary ganglion often includes the primary form (caused by bacteria entering through the respiratory tract causing pneumonia or bronchitis). In case of pneumonia, the patient has symptoms of dry rales, many small moist rales.
As for secondary pneumonia, this is a complication of any type of upper lymphadenitis. It is caused by bacteria traveling through the bloodstream to the lungs or through the lymph to the air nodes of the bronchi, from there into the lung parenchyma, causing inflammation of the lungs or bronchitis.

3. What should be done to prevent tularemia from being transmitted?

Currently there is no vaccine to prevent Tularemia, so each person should take preventive measures by the following:
Minimize insect bites by wearing long-sleeved clothes, pants and pants. long and the pant leg should be tucked into the stocking. Besides, it is advisable to wear light-colored clothing because it will help us see the fleas on the clothes before they move to the skin. Insect repellent containing DEET should be applied to bare skin. Before applying the medicine, read the instructions for use carefully. Besides, use products with no more than 30% DEET and especially don't apply insect repellent on babies' skin. Permethrin can be applied to household items such as clothing to combat fleas. Similar to the above, it is necessary to read the product packaging carefully and follow all instructions for use before use. Do not apply permethrin directly to the skin. Always wash your skin with soap and water after entering the house. Find the flea and remove it if it is on clothing, objects or people. However, do not try to squeeze or curl the fleas. Gloves should be worn when butchering or skinning wild animals, especially rabbits and rodents. After processing, the meat of wild animals and rodents should be thoroughly cooked before eating. In addition, to prevent disease, adults and children should not touch sick animals or dead animals without protective gloves. Do not drink or live in contaminated or untreated water. If you suspect that you are infected, you should quickly go to the hospital for timely examination and treatment. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading prestigious hospitals in the country, trusted by a large number of patients for medical examination and treatment. Not only the physical system, modern equipment: 6 ultrasound rooms, 4 DR X-ray rooms (1 full-axis machine, 1 light machine, 1 general machine and 1 mammography machine) , 2 DR portable X-ray machines, 2 multi-row CT scanner rooms (1 128 rows and 1 16 arrays), 2 Magnetic resonance imaging rooms (1 3 Tesla and 1 1.5 Tesla), 1 room for 2 levels of interventional angiography and 1 room to measure bone mineral density.... Vinmec is also the place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses who will greatly assist in diagnosis and detection. early signs of abnormality in the patient's body. In particular, with a space designed according to 5-star hotel standards, Vinmec ensures to bring the patient the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.

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