Systemic Bartonella henselae infection with hepatosplenic involvement

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Hepatology
• Medical Microbiology

Background:

• Systemic Bartonella henselae infections are uncommon in immunocompetent individuals.
• Typical presentation involves prolonged fever and granulomatous liver/spleen lesions.

Observation:

• A retrospective study analyzed pediatric patients with liver/spleen lesions.
• Bartonella henselae infection was confirmed in 9 out of 13 patients with hepatosplenic involvement.

Findings:

• Patients presented with prolonged fever or cat-scratch disease symptoms.
• Liver biopsies revealed necrotizing granulomas; aminotransferase levels were normal.
• Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics led to lesion resolution.

Implications:

• Bartonella henselae is a significant cause of pediatric hepatosplenic lesions.
• Serological testing enables rapid diagnosis, reducing the need for invasive investigations.
• Hepatosplenic involvement in cat-scratch disease may be more frequent than currently recognized.