title: Brucellosis, an uncommon and frequently delayed diagnosis.
abstract: In the Netherlands, brucellosis is uncommon. Diagnosis is difficult and frequently delayed. We present three patients with back pain and/or arthralgia caused by brucellosis. We emphasise the importance of considering brucellosis in patients returning from a stay in a rural area of an endemic country, who present with osteoarticular symptoms and signs of chronic inflammation. Clues to the diagnosis come from a thorough medical history.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, the Netherlands. hannelore.bax@gmail.com
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Bax
authors.forename: M-L C
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: van Veelen
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Gyssens
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rietveld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D004318:Doxycycline; D012293:Rifampin