Tularemia, also known as deer fly fever or rabbit fever, is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria. It can affect both animals and humans. Tularemia can present in different forms depending on the route of infection. If left untreated, tularemia can be life-threatening. Thankfully, the treatment of tularemia is possible with prompt antibiotics.
What are the Treatment of Tularemia Disease?
Tularemia is a potentially serious infectious disease but it is curable if caught and treated early. Here are some of the treatments:
- Antibiotics form the basis of rabbit fever treatment. Either broad-spectrum injected antibiotics or oral antibiotics may be prescribed.
- Common antibiotics used include streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin.
- It's important to take the full antibiotic course as prescribed to prevent relapse. Stopping treatment early can allow bacteria to persist.
- Managing symptoms at home can provide added comfort until antibiotics take effect. This can involve over-the-counter medications or other therapies as recommended by your healthcare provider.
- Sometimes serious complications arise requiring extra interventions beyond antibiotics, like draining accumulations of pus.
- The key is to seek treatment as quickly as possible once tularemia is suspected or diagnosed. Fast antibiotic intervention helps avoid progression to severe, life-threatening disease.