Brucellosis in pediatric patients: A review of 114 cases from Asir region.
Over a period of four years. 114 children (> 28 days to </= 12 years) with seropositive brucellosis were admitted to Khamis Mushayt Civil Hospital, constituting 1% of all pediatric admissions. History of contact with domestic animals and ingestion of raw milk was positive, and over 84% of the patients were from the rural areas of Asir. The male:female ratio was 1.2:1, over 59% were of </= 5 years of age. Common clinical features observed were fever (80.7%), hepatosplemomegaly (38%), arthropathies (29%), and anemia (34%). Over 36% of the children were undernourished. Serological identification of etiological agents revealed Abortus and melitensis (53.5%). Abortus (32.5%) and melitensis (14%). All patients were treated with a combination of rifampicin and septrin. There were no deaths, drug-induced hepatitis was observed in two cases. It would appear that brucellosis is one of the major causes of morbidity in the pediatric population located in the Asir region and there is an urgent need for an effective control program.
Nabi
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Department of Pediatrics, Khamis Mushayt Civil Hospital, Khamis Mushayt, and Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Mir
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