| Abstrakt: |
Cutaneous Manifestations of BrucellosisAim.To present and compare 10-year clinical experience of human brucellosis in Republic of Macedonia with data presented in the literature about the frequency of cutaneous manifestations of brucellosis. To estimate the percent of underdiagnosed/misdiagnosed skin lesions related to brucellosis and to raise awareness of cutaneous manifestations of brucellosis in our clinical practice.Methods.Clinical records and experience of the Infectious Diseases Clinic and Dermatology Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Skopje, and a review of the recent literature data about cutaneous manifestations of brucellosis relevant for dermatologists, infectologists and general practitioners.Results.Cutaneous manifestations or complications have been reported rarely, less than 5% (3.8% - 17%) in different published studies. A variety of skin lesions have been reported in patients with brucellosis, including rashes (25%), nodules, papules, erythema nodosum (25%), eczematous lesions (12.5%), psoriasiform lesions (12.5%), petechiae, purpura and others.Conclusion.Human brucellosis should always be in the differential diagnosis of a patient with rash and fever. Cutaneous findings may be useful in diagnosing brucellosis in persons who live in endemic regions. Early diagnosis and timely initiation of proper antibiotic treatment are of major importance for the effective cure and prevention of complications of the disease. General practitioners and clinicians, especially dermatologists, have to be more alert in clinical recognition and laboratory verification of brucellosis as an important public health problem. |
