Yersiniosis

„Šaldytuvų ligos“ – jersiniozės atvejų nustatome vis daugiau.

Yersiniosis – an infectious disease caused by Y. Enterocolitica, Y. Pestis, and Y. Pseudotuberculosis bacteria. Infection occurs by consuming contaminated vegetables, meat products, as the carriers of the bacteria can be dogs, cats, pigs, cattle, and especially rodents (mice, rats). The bacteria multiply at +5°C – 25°C temperature.

Incubation period – from 15 hours to 4 days.

The manifestation of the disease's symptoms depends on the human body's resistance, dose of the infection, pathogenicity of the bacteria, and the patient's age. In small children, the disease usually manifests with fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, often with blood in the stool. These symptoms generally last 4 – 7 days, sometimes up to 3 weeks. In older children and adults, the dominant symptoms may only be fever and abdominal pain, hence the infection often mimics appendicitis.

Symptoms of yersiniosis:

• stomach and intestinal pain;
• temperature can rise up to 38-39°C and more;
• pain in the right lower abdomen (often suspected appendicitis, in women – right ovarian inflammation);
• frequent (mushy) stools may occur;
• rash, manifesting as red, itchy pimples appearing only on the extremities and trunk area;
• increased sweating, weakness may occur.

To reduce the risk of yersinia infection, it is advised:

• Consume only sufficiently heat-treated animal food;
• Consume only pasteurized or boiled milk and its products;
• Thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits before consumption;
• Wash hands with soap before eating, after contact with animals and raw meat;
• Thoroughly wash hands when caring for a baby, their toys, bottles, or pacifiers;
• Avoid cross-contamination of food in the kitchen: use separate cutting boards for raw meat and other products, thoroughly clean and disinfect the kitchen environment after handling raw meat, vegetables;
• Protect soil and water sources from contamination by human and animal feces;
• Properly care for household pets and remember to wash hands after contact with them;
• Protect vegetable supplies from rodents, eliminate them.

Anti-Yersinia IgA antibody detection – intended for determining the acute phase of the disease.

Anti-Yersinia IgG antibody detection – intended for determining the chronic course of the disease, as well as assessing the effectiveness of treatment.

Complications: may appear 1-2 weeks after the onset of the disease. May complicate into polyarthritis (affecting major joints), Reiter's syndrome, infectious – allergic myocarditis.