Childhood Brucellosis: A Single-Center Experience from the Central Mediterranean Region of Turkey

Abstract

Objective Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease in developing countries, which can occur with varying clinical findings and cause complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate cases diagnosed with brucellosis that were followed up in our clinic over the last 10 years. Methods A retrospective evaluation was made of cases diagnosed with brucellosis and then followed up and treated as inpatients or outpatients in our clinic between January 2011 and 2021. Patient data were obtained from the hospital automated records system. Results This study included 81 cases comprising 43 (53.1%) males and 38 (46.9%) females with a mean age of 10.7 ± 4.5 years (range, 13 months–18 years). There was a history of consuming unpasteurized milk and/or dairy products in 69 (85.2%) patients, living in a rural location in 66 (81.3%), and the family keeping livestock in 49 (60.5%) cases; there was a family history of brucellosis in 31 (38.3%) cases. The most common complaint at presentation was joint pain in 71.6%, the most common finding on physical examination was fever (59.3%), and the most common laboratory finding was elevated C-reactive protein (71.6% of cases). Brucella spp. were isolated from 12 of 43 patients who had blood cultures performed. Complications occurred in 33 (40.7%) cases, most commonly involving the osteoarticular system. Conclusion Priority should be given to family education about not consuming raw animal products. Animals should be checked, vaccinated, and treated with a multidisciplinary approach. Until the clinical condition in endemic areas is proven to be due to a different cause, patients should be examined with the suspicion that any clinical finding may be due to brucellosis.