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Intractable Q fever treated with recombinant gamma interferon
Y Morisawa1, H Wakiguchi, T Takechi
1Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Medical School, Japan. ymorisawa@nch.go.jp
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|May 23, 2001
Summary
A child with Q fever experienced persistent symptoms despite antibiotics. Gamma interferon treatment successfully resolved the infection and normalized lab values.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonotic illness that can present with prolonged or relapsing symptoms.
- Standard antibiotic regimens may not always achieve complete eradication, particularly in pediatric cases.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old boy presented with persistent spiking fevers and positive Coxiella burnetii PCR despite multiple antibiotic treatments, including minocycline.
- The child's clinical condition and laboratory parameters remained abnormal for several months.
Findings:
- Administration of gamma interferon three times weekly led to the resolution of symptoms.
- Following gamma interferon therapy, the patient became asymptomatic, and abnormal laboratory data normalized.
Implications:
- Gamma interferon may represent a viable therapeutic option for refractory pediatric Q fever cases.
- This case highlights the potential role of immunomodulatory therapy in managing persistent Coxiella burnetii infections.