Pulmonary manifestations of other agents: brucella, Q fever, tularemia and smallpox.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. Glenn.Wortmann@na.amedd.army.mil

Brucella, Q fever, tularemia, and smallpox are all rare infections in the United States but are potential agents of biologic terrorism. The pulmonary manifestations of these infections range from uncommon (brucella and smallpox) to expected (Q fever and tularemia). and all have clinical and radiologic presentations that can be confused with other, more endemic,diseases. Once the release of these agents has been determined, the diagnosis of presenting patients will be straightforward. The onus is on the clinician,however, to be able to recognize the first few, unexpected cases, because early identification will be paramount in helping curb the effect of the outbreak.

PMID: 15062230 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]