Symptoms

Symptoms of brucellosis may show up anytime from a few days to a few months after you've been infected. Signs and symptoms are similar to those of the flu and include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Loss of appetite
• Sweats
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Joint, muscle and back pain
• Headache

Brucellosis symptoms may disappear for weeks or months and then return. Some people have chronic brucellosis and experience symptoms for years, even after treatment. Long-term signs and symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Recurrent fevers
• Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers (endocarditis)
• Joint inflammation (arthritis)
• Arthritis of the spinal bones (spondylitis)
• Arthritis of joints where the spine and pelvis connect (sacroiliitis)

When to see a doctor

Brucellosis can be hard to identify, especially in the early stages, when it often resembles other conditions, such as the flu. See your doctor if you develop a rapidly rising fever, muscle aches or unusual weakness and have any risk factors for the disease, or if you have a persistent fever.