A21: Tularaemia

A21.2: Pulmonary tularaemia

Rabbit fever is caused by certain bacteria. These bacteria occur in hares and rabbits, as well as in other animals. Rabbit fever can cause infection in various ways. For example, you can be infected by rabbit fever if you grasp infected animals. You can also become infected by breathing in the bacteria along with air.

Rabbit fever can be accompanied by a high temperature and headaches. You may also have sore limbs and feel very weak. This can make you very sick. There may also be confusion.

The bacteria have got into your airways. When we breathe, the air gets into the body via the respiratory tract. The respiratory tract can be divided into the upper and the lower respiratory tracts. The nose and throat form part of the upper respiratory tract. The lower respiratory tract begins at the larynx. This includes the trachea and the bronchia. In the lungs, the bacteria can cause a dry cough or shortness of breath. You can also have stomach pain or feel nauseous.