title: Epidemiological and clinical aspects of human brucellosis in eastern Anatolia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the seroprevalence of human brucellosis and risk factors in a village in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, where a brucellosis outbreak among cattle had recently occurred.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 501 inhabitants enrolled were screened with the Rose Bengal Test and were asked to fill out a questionnaire to determine the signs and symptoms of brucellosis and the risk factors. Patients' laboratory findings and clinical responses were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Rose Bengal Test was positive in 44 persons. In comparison of age groups, fever (20.2%), arthralgia (19.2%) and weight loss (8.4%) were frequently seen in children (p<0.05). Hepatomegaly (17.9%) was also prevalent in the age group of 0 to 14 years (p<0.05). The consumption of dairy products, a family history of brucellosis, and raising livestock were significantly related to seropositivity (p<0.05). Rifampicin plus doxycyline was the most common regimen administered in these cases (54.5%) and also had the highest relapse rate (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brucellosis remains an important public-health problem in the rural areas of Turkey. Appropriate public health measures and education must be pursued to eradicate human brucellosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Gevas Hospital, Turkey. cenkaypak@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aypak
authors.forename: Adalet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altunsoy
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kutta Çelik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002007:Brucellosis, Bovine / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D012395:Rose Bengal; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D012395:Rose Bengal; D004318:Doxycycline; D012293:Rifampin