Septic arthritis as the initial manifestation of fatal Vibrio vulnificus septicemia in a patient with thalassemia and iron overload.
Vibrio vulnificus infection is an uncommon but potentially fatal disease in children such that prompt recognition has prognostic implications. We describe here the case of a 9-year-old female with thalassemia and iron overload who presented with septic arthritis as an atypical initial manifestation of fatal V. vulnificus septicemia. This report underscores the possibility of septic arthritis as an early manifestation of V. vulnificus septicemia. Pediatricians should be alert to this extremely invasive disease, especially in children with iron overload.
Kuo
Chang-Hung
CH
Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Dai
Zen-Kong
ZK
Wu
Jiunn-Ren
JR
Hsieh
Tsyh-Jyi
TJ
Hung
Chih-Hsing
CH
Hsu
Jong-Hau
JH
D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000150:complications*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus