Brucella infection in children: Evaluation of 148 pediatric patients

Abstract

Aim: Brucellosis a worldwide infectious zoonotic disease. This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical, demographic characteristics, complications, treatment and follow-up results of pediatric patients diagnosed with brucellosis. Material and Method: The medical records of 148 pediatric patients who were diagnosed with brucellosis were studied retrospectively. Results: Sixty-one female (41.2%), 87 male (58.8%), in total 148 pediatric patients who were diagnosed with brucellosis were included in the study. Among the patients, 64.1% had a history of consuming fresh cheese, 4.1% had a history of consuming raw milk and 16.9% had a history of keeping a Brucella diagnosed animal at home. Brucella history rate in the family members of the patients was determined as 39.2%; and 12.8% of the patients included in the study were asymptomatic. The most common complaint of the patients who were symptomatic was fever (59.5%) followed by arthralgias (41.2%) and leg pain (38.5%). All patients were subjected to standard tube agglutination test and blood culture was taken from 93 patients. B. melitensis in blood culture was positive in 72% of the patients. Osteoarticular involvement developed in 12.1% of the patients; and 1.3% of the patients developed relapses after the end of the treatment. Discussion: Brucellosis is still an endemic disease in Turkey. Brucella can infect all organs and tissues and is a major cause of morbidity. The use of more than one antibiotic in the treatment and long treatment duration reduces patient compliance; thus, close follow-up of the patients is important.