Types Of Tularemia And Their Symptoms

Pneumonic Tularemia

Pneumonic tularemia involves the lungs, and it is transmitted when an individual inhales Francisella tularensisbacteria that has become airborne. Although among the rarest types of this condition, it is also one of the most severe forms of tularemia for humans. Patients are at risk of contracting this variety of tularemia when they do gardening, construction work, or other activities that disturb the soil. Laboratory workers who work with this disease are at an increased risk of pneumonic tularemia, and the condition can develop when other less serious forms of tularemia are left untreated. The symptoms associated with pneumonic tularemia are similar to pneumonia and include chest pain, a dry cough, and breathing difficulties. As this condition progresses, patients might develop a lung abscess or pleural effusion (an accumulation of fluid around the lungs). This form of tularemia may require the use of intravenous antibiotics, and patients will need to be closely monitored for potential complications such as pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane that protects the heart). To reduce their risk of pneumonic tularemia, lab workers and individuals who garden or work with soil should wear face masks.

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