1. Strep or Sore Throat Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the MRSA Quiz!
3. Infectious Mononucleosis Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• What is tularemia?
• What are the different types of tularemia?
• What causes tularemia?
• What are symptoms and signs of tularemia?
• How is tularemia diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for tularemia?
• Tularemia and bioterrorism
• Is there a vaccine for tularemia?
• Where can people find more information about tularemia?
• Tularemia At A Glance
• Find a local Infectious Disease Specialist in your town
• Tularemia Index

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tularemia
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/facts.asp

United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/tularemia/index.html

• Tularemia is caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis.
• Tularemia affects animals and humans.
• Humans acquire tularemia when they come into contact with infected animals or are bitten by insects that feed on infected animals.
• Tularemia may be spread through inhalation of dried animal matter, eating undercooked game, skinning or dressing killed animals, or drinking water contaminated with animal carcasses.
• Tularemia causes fever, fatigue, aches and headache. Swollen lymph nodes are common. A sore may form at the site of inoculation. The organism may spread widely, causing major organs to fail. Pneumonia is common after inhalation but may also occur when the organism spreads throughout the body.
• Tularemia is a potential bioterrorism agent because it can be freeze-dried into a power which can be aerosolized and only a few inhaled bacteria can cause disease.
• If untreated, tularemia causes prolonged fever and fatigue and is often fatal. With treatment, death is rare.
• Tularemia is treated with intramuscular streptomycin or intravenous gentamicin. Oral medications are less reliable and are not currently recommended for significant disease.

REFERENCES:

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Key Facts About Tularemia." Oct. 7, 2003. <http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/facts.asp>.

United States. United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration. "Tularemia." <http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/tularemia/index.html >.