Prospective Evaluation of 140 Patients With Brucellosis in the Southern Region of Turkey

The aim of this study was to asses the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of brucellosis in Adana region, Turkey. In this prospective study, a total of 140 patients with brucellosis were investigated in terms of spread of infection; seasonal, age, and sex distribution; clinical and laboratory characteristics; depression and anxiety rates; relapse rates; and response to different treatment combinations. One hundred two patients (72.9%) were female, and 38 patients (27.1%) were male; mean age was 45.81 +/- 15.62 years, ranging from 2 to 77 years. Twenty-five patients (17.8%) had history of contact with animals, and 31 patients (22.1%) had history of consumption of raw milk and/or its products. The highest seasonal distribution was observed during summer. Malaise (95.0%), sweating (85.7%), and arthralgia (85.0%) were the major presenting symptoms. The most common physical examination findings were fever (52.9%), hepatomegaly (20.7%), and splenomegaly (12.1%). Osteoarticular involvement, orchitis, and iridocyclitis were observed in 64.9%, 38.0% (of male patients), and 0.7% of the patients, respectively. Scintigraphy was performed for 114 patients who have focal joint and bone complaints and findings. Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory testing were applied to 98 patients with brucellosis, and depression was observed in 37.8% of these patients. The total point of State Anxiety Inventory testing was 46.21 +/- 12.87, and the total point of Trait Anxiety Inventory testing was 46.98 +/- 10.11. Either the depression rates or points of State Anxiety Inventory testing and Trait Anxiety Inventory testing in patients with brucellosis were statistically higher than in the control group. In 134 patients, initial standard tube agglutination testing titer was 1/160 or more. Brucella melitensis was found positive in 22 patients. Relapse rate was 3.5%. Brucellosis continues to be a health problem in countries where consumption of unpasteurized dairy products and stockbreeding are common.