Human Brucellosis in Tuzla Canton

Introduction: The prevalence of human brucellosis in Bosnia and Herzegovinaand the Tuzla Canton reached its peak in 2008, with a reported total of 994 caseswithin country, and with 104 cases within the Tuzla Canton. Aim: to analyze theclinical and epidemiological features of human brucellosis in patients hospitalizedat the University Clinical Center Tuzla during the period from 01/01/2000 till the31/12/2010. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical symptoms, thelaboratory and X-ray findings, the treatments, and the course and outcome of thedisease. The diagnosis of brucellosis was based on anamnesis, clinical presentation,in correlation with a positive blood-culture, and/or serological tests. Results:The majority of patients (93.18%) were from rural regions. There were more males(79.54%) than females. Most of the patients were aged between 30 to 39 years (21%cases). Contact with infected animals was registered for 83.40% of the patients. Themain symptoms and signs were fever, joint-pains, night sweating, anorexia, headaches,and hepatosplenomegaly. The important laboratory findings were increasederythrocyte sedimentation rates, increased values of C-reactive protein, and anemia.Adult patients were treated with a combination of gentamicin or streptomycin withdoxycycline, and the children with a combination of gentamicin, and trimethoprimsulfametaxasol,over at least 6 weeks. Complications were documented in 20.45% ofthe patients. Relapses were observed in 14.20%, and a chronic form of brucellosis in5.11% of patients. There were no cases with lethal outcomes. Conclusion: Brucellosisis a growing public health problem, not only within the Tuzla Canton, but throughoutBosnia and Herzegovina.