The unusual case of neck lymphadenopathy - oculoglandular form of tularemia

• Authors: Katarzyna Baranowska-Kempisty , Jolanta Kluz-Zawadzka , Sylwia Warzybok-Bajda , Krzysztof Szuber

Abstracts

EN

Tularemia is anthropozoonosis caused by Bacteria Francisella tularensis a gram negative, non-motile aerobic bacillus.[5][8] The bacteria is transmitted mostly by rabbits, hares, rodents and arthropods. The pathogen penetrates into an organism via damaged skin, conjunctiva or mucosa- either through inhalation or ingestion. The clinical manifestations depend on the route of acquisition. Six forms of the disease can be distinguished: ulceroglandular or glandular, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, respiratory, typhoidal, and intestinal. [11] We present a case report of the rarest oculoglandular form of tularemia. The patient was admitted to the hospital with right pre-auricular swelling, right sided neck lymphadenopathy, conjunctivitis and a nodule of the right eyelid. After excluding more common differential diagnoses, an ELISA test was performed and Francisella tularensis antibodies were identified. Patient administered proper antibiotic therapy. Tularemia is a rarely occurring disease in Poland and is nearly never taken into consideration by otolaryngologists when diagnosing patients with neck lymphadenopathy. In clinical practice, otorhinolaryngologists should always consider this infectious zoonosis, especially the oculoglandular and oropharyngeal forms, as delayed diagnosis and treatment may causes serious health consequences in patients. In the future new drug research should be conducted because of the adverse effect of widely used medications specially for children and pregnant woman.

Keywords

EN

neck limphadenopathy; tularemia; Francisella tularensis; otorhinolaryngology

• Publisher: Index Copernicus International
• Journal: Polski Przegląd Otorynolaryngologiczny
• Year: 2018
• Volume: 7(3)
• Pages: 33-38

Dates

published

2018-08-21

Contributors

author

Katarzyna Baranowska-Kempisty

author

Jolanta Kluz-Zawadzka

author

Sylwia Warzybok-Bajda

author

Krzysztof Szuber

Identifiers

DOI

10.5604/01.3001.0012.2885