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Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics 8/2009

01-08-2009 | Original Paper

Ulceroglandular tularemia in a toddler in Germany after a mosquito bite

Authors: Christof A Hanke, Joerg-Elard Otten, Reinhard Berner, Annerose Serr, Wolf Splettstoesser, Christian von Schnakenburg

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 8/2009

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Abstract

Introduction

Although tularemia is a long-known disease, its significance had diminished over the last decades in Middle Europe. However, over the past years, there is new evidence suggesting that tularemia has re-emerged in Germany. In 2007, the highest number of human cases for almost 50 years has been notified. Beside typical vectors, new ways of transmission seem to gain significance. So far, mosquito bite-transmitted tularemia has only been known from Scandinavia but not from Middle Europe.

Case report

We report the first case of a 1-year-old toddler from Southwestern Germany with mosquito bite-associated ulceroglandular tularaemia. The new and interesting features of this case are the young age of the patient and the unusual transmission route. The available data suggesting changes in the epidemiology for tularemia in Germany are reviewed. This is an interesting case of infantile tularemia with a very unusual transmission route, highlighting ongoing changes in the epidemiology of tularemia in Germany.
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Metadata
Title
Ulceroglandular tularemia in a toddler in Germany after a mosquito bite
Authors
Christof A Hanke
Joerg-Elard Otten
Reinhard Berner
Annerose Serr
Wolf Splettstoesser
Christian von Schnakenburg
Publication date
01-08-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 8/2009
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0862-3

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