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Tularemia

Last reviewed: 30 Sep 2024
Last updated: 09 Jun 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • fever
  • lymphadenopathy
  • painful skin ulcer
  • unilateral conjunctivitis
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • headache
  • malaise/fatigue
  • myalgia
  • anorexia
  • abdominal pain
  • vomiting
  • rales
  • nonproductive cough/dyspnea
  • sore throat
  • photophobia
  • vision impairment/loss
  • jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, diarrhea
  • positive Kernig/Brudzinski sign, stiff neck
Full details

Risk factors

  • tick exposure
  • biting fly exposure
  • contact with infected animals
  • yard work in areas where infected animals live
  • spring or summer season
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • CBC
  • serum electrolyte levels
  • LFTs
  • serum creatine kinase
  • urine dipstick for blood
  • erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  • serology
  • blood culture
  • specimen culture
  • polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of ulcer swab or lymph node aspirate
Full details

Tests to consider

  • chest x-ray
  • lumbar puncture
  • histopathology
Full details

Emerging tests

  • antigen detection in urine

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

tularemia without meningitis

tularemic meningitis

Contributors

Authors

William A. Petri, Jr., MD, PhD, FACP
William A. Petri, Jr.

Wade Hampton Frost Professor of Epidemiology

Professor of Medicine, Microbiology, and Pathology

Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health

University of Virginia

Charlottesville

VA

Disclosures

WAP declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Christopher Huston, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Division of Infectious Diseases

University of Vermont College of Medicine

Burlington

VT

Disclosures

CH declares that he has no competing interests.

Beth Kirkpatrick, MD

Assistant Professor

Infectious Diseases

University of Vermont College of Medicine

Burlington

VT

Disclosures

BK declares that she has no competing interests.

  • Tularemia images
  • Differentials

    • Tularemic bacteremia
    • Cat scratch disease
    • Toxoplasmosis
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Tickborne diseases of the United States: a reference manual for health care providers
    • Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections
    More Guidelines
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