Tularemia: a case series from an endemic area in Hajnówka County, Norteast Poland.

Abstract

Background: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It may manifest itself in various clinical forms, but in Poland the ulcerative-glandular or glandular forms of tularemia predominate. One of the routes of infection with F. tularensis is through a tick or insect bite. A patient may show no symptoms or report flu-like symptoms and painful lumps adjacent to the bite site. The differential diagnosis of localized lymphadenopathy accompanied by flu-like symptoms should include tularemia, especially in endemic areas. Lymphadenitis usually requires surgical intervention and is often unsuccessfully treated with beta-lactam antibiotics before the diagnosis of tularemia is established.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze and present the epidemiology and clinical presentation of tularemia in a highly endemic area, in which ticks are an important vector of F. tularensis.

Material and methods: We have analyzed epidemiological and medical reports on the confirmed tularemia cases from Hajnówka County in 2014-2022. We describe three patients from the specific endemic area who were diagnosed with granular tularemia in 2022.

Results: We have found high local exposition to Francisella tularensis infection in the Narewka community, generally consistent with the seasonality of tick activity and human activity outdoors.

Conclusions: The medical practitioner in such endemic areas must be aware that tularemia should be considered when diagnosing of flu-like symptoms accompanied by lymphadenopathy in patients bitten by ticks or insects in the summer and early autumn months. Early diagnosis and targeted antibiotic therapy are the basis for effective treatment of tularemia.