Q fever endocarditis in a 6-year-old child.
A 6-year-old boy with a congenital bicuspid aortic valve presented with finger clubbing and hypertrophic osteoarthopathy, and subsequently he developed severe hypertension. The hypertension was successfully treated by nephrectomy, at which a thrombosed mycotic aneurysm of the renal artey was found. Echocardiography showed the presence of aortic valve vegetations. Blood cultures were sterile, but high antibody titres to the phase 1 and 2 antigens of Coxiella burneti strongly suggested Q fever infection. We believe this is the first reported case of Q fever endocarditis in early childhood.
D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis