Endemic of zoonotic sporotrichosis: profile of cases in children.
BACKGROUND
Sporotrichosis in childhood is rare in most countries. Isolated cases and small outbreaks related to recreational activities or without identification of the transmission mechanism have been reported.


METHODS
Series of case reports. The isolation of Sporothrix schenckii from exudates or fragments of lesions obtained from the patients was used as the criterion of inclusion in the study.


RESULTS
A total of 81 cases of sporotrichosis in children younger than 15 years of age were diagnosed at the Evandro Chagas Research Institute, Fiocruz, Brazil, between 1998 and 2004. These cases are part of the endemic disease occurring in Rio de Janeiro related to contact with domestic cats. There was a predominance of girls in the 10-14 year age group. The most frequent clinical form was the cutaneouslymphatic form located on the upper limbs. Itraconazole was used as the first-choice treatment. Sixty-six patients were cured, 9 were lost to follow-up, and 6 had spontaneous regression of the lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the largest series of childhood sporotrichosis with zoonotic transmission. The clinical presentation of sporotrichosis in children followed the same pattern of the disease in adults in this ongoing endemic.
Barros
Mônica Bastos de Lima
MB
Infectious Diseases Service, Evandro Chagas Clinical Research Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. mblbarros@fiocruz.br
Costa
Débora Lúcia Macedo Alves
DL
Schubach
Tânia Maria Pacheco
TM
do Valle
Antônio Carlos Francesconi
AC
Lorenzi
Noemi Pereira
NP
Teixeira
José Liporage
JL
Schubach
Armando de Oliveira
Ade O
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D003607:Dacryocystitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005121:Extremities / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013175:Sporothrix / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013174:Sporotrichosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole