Q Fever Chronic Osteomyelitis in Two Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Bacterial Osteomyelitis
• Zoonotic Infections

Background:

• Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonotic infection typically presenting with acute febrile illness.
• Chronic Q fever manifestations, such as osteomyelitis, are rare, particularly in pediatric populations.
• Osteomyelitis poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in children.

Observation:

• Two pediatric patients, aged 10 and 5 years, presented with chronic granulomatous osteomyelitis.
• The 10-year-old girl had distal right femoral osteomyelitis.
• The 5-year-old girl presented with left parasternal osteomyelitis.

Findings:

• Both cases of Q fever osteomyelitis demonstrated a positive response to treatment with ciprofloxacin and rifampin.
• This combination antibiotic therapy proved effective in managing chronic Q fever bone infections in these children.
• Successful treatment highlights the potential efficacy of fluoroquinolones and rifampicin.

Implications:

• Early diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial selection are crucial for managing pediatric Q fever osteomyelitis.
• This case series contributes valuable data on treating a rare pediatric bone infection.
• Further research is needed to establish definitive treatment guidelines for Q fever osteomyelitis in children.