Presentation, complications, and treatment outcome of brucellosis in Turkish children.
BACKGROUND
Brucellosis constitutes a public health problem in Turkey. In endemic Brucella melitensis areas such as Turkey, children represent 20-25% of cases.


METHODS
Hospital records of 90 children with brucellosis admitted during a 9 year period, 1997-2006, were evaluated retrospectively.


RESULTS
Of 90 patients, 27 (30%) were female and 63 (70%) were male (P < 0.05). Patients were aged between 1 and 16 years of age. The mean age was 9.02 +/- 3.59 years. Fifty-two patients (57.8%) were from rural areas of Turkey. The mode of transmission was consumption of unpasteurized milk and milk products in 64 patients (71.1%). Parents of 41 patients (45.6%) worked in animal breeding. A positive family history for brucellosis was noted in 14 patients (15.6%). The most frequently involved joint with arthralgia was the knee joint. Arthritis was found in six patients (6.7%), and five of the six had monoarthritis. Serum agglutination test was >or=1/160 in 82 patients (91.1%). The joint symptoms rapidly responded to the treatment and the majority of the patients had significant improvement. The duration of treatment was 6 weeks in 81 patients (90%). Six patients experienced relapse. Four patients presented with complications that included neurobrucellosis, discitis and sclerosis of the hip joint.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of childhood brucellosis with co-trimoxazole + rifampicin or doxycycline + rifampicin, according to patient age, is effective and has low relapse rates. Complications and relapse were successfully treated with triple-drug regimens with a low sequelae rate.
Tanir
Gonul
G
Department of Pediatrics, Dr Sami Ulus Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Center, Ankara, Turkey. gonultanir58@yahoo.com
Tufekci
Sehra B
SB
Tuygun
Nilden
N
D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology