Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026
A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts
Published on: September 20, 2018
Brucellosis in children: clinical observations in 115 cases
Mohammed Al Shaalan1, Ziad A Memish, Suleiman Al Mahmoud
1Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Brucellosis is common in Saudi Arabia, especially in children. Arthritis is the most frequent symptom, often caused by consuming unpasteurized milk, highlighting the need for public health education.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Brucellosis is a significant public health concern in Saudi Arabia.
- Pediatric brucellosis epidemiology requires detailed understanding for effective control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the epidemiology of brucellosis in children admitted to King Fahad National Guard Hospital.
- To analyze clinical presentations, diagnostic methods, and treatment outcomes in pediatric brucellosis cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with brucellosis between 1984 and 1995.
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical features, laboratory findings, and treatment regimens.
Main Results:
- Children under 12 represented 21% of brucellosis admissions, with a mean age of 5.8 years and 64% males.
- Arthritis was the predominant clinical manifestation (70%), with unpasteurized milk consumption as the primary infection source.
- Brucella melitensis was the most common isolate (96%), and high Brucella serology titers (>1:640) were observed in 90% of cases. Relapse rate was 9%.
Conclusions:
- Brucellosis in children presents diverse clinical features, necessitating its consideration in the differential diagnosis of arthritis in endemic regions.
- Public health education emphasizing milk pasteurization is crucial for preventing pediatric brucellosis.
Objective:
Brucellosis is endemic in Saudi Arabia. This report summarizes the epidemiology of brucellosis in children.
Method:
A retrospective review was made of medical records of all patients admitted to King Fahad National Guard Hospital with brucellosis during the period from 1984 to 1995.
Results:
Children < or =12 years constituted 115/545 (21%) of the total brucellosis admissions. The mean age was 5.8 years and 64% of the patients were males. Consumption of unpasteurized milk (often from camel) was the main source of infection. In 70% the clinical picture was dominated by arthritis, 20% of patients presented with a non-specific febrile illness without localizing signs, and 10% had a febrile illness with uncommon presentations. Brucella serology was most helpful in making an early diagnosis. Initial titers of >1:640 were found in 90% of the cases. Bacteremia was observed in 45% and of the isolates speciated, 96% were Brucella melitensis. No increase in resistance to commonly used antimicrobials was noted during the 12-year study period. A combination of rifampin plus co-trimoxazole with or without streptomycin was used in two thirds of the patients. The overall rate of relapse was 9% and one patient died from neurobrucellosis.
Conclusion:
Brucellosis presents in various ways and should be included in the differential diagnosis of arthritis in endemic countries. Prevention should rely on education including on boiling raw milk.
