What Happens to People Infected With Brucellosis?
A. People infected with brucellosis can have many different symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, anorexia, fatigue, body aches, sweats and mental inattention. Other symptoms might include fever, swollen lymph nodes and occasionally an enlarged liver and/or spleen. Symptoms usually begin 2-3 weeks after a person becomes infected. In about one half of cases, the symptoms appear right after infection, while in other cases, symptoms develop over several weeks or months. In people, brucellosis can affect any organ or organ system. Bones and joints are commonly involved and the lower spinal cord (the spine itself does not swell) often swells and is painful. Infected people can also suffer from painful, swollen joints in the shoulder, knees or hips. People rarely die from brucellosis. Life threatening conditions include infection of the heart valves or the brain. However, these cases are rare.
