Study of Brucellosis in a Pastoral Community and Evaluation of the Usefulness of Clinical Signs and Symptoms in Differentiating it from other Flu-Like Diseases

ABSTRACT

A study of differentials causing flu-like symptoms (malaria; typhoid; streptococcal infections and rheumatoid arthritis) in 488 patients from a pastoralist area is presented. The potential usefulness of clinical signs; symptoms and diagnostic tests in ruling-in or ruling-out these diseases was investigated in the District hospital and three outlying health dispensaries. For each patient a detailed clinical history plus diagnostic test for brucellosis; typhoid; streptococcal infections and rheumatoid arthritis; and for some patients malaria were conducted. Incidence levels of these diseases were estimated using laboratory test results; brucellosis; 13; typhoid; 40 streptococcal infections; 6malaria; 9 and rheumatoid arthritis; 10. Brucellosis could not be differentiated clinically from the other flu-like diseases but rheumatoid arthritis could