Brucellosis in Pediatric Populations: An 11-Year Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatrics
• Microbiology

Background:

• Brucellosis is a significant zoonotic infection endemic in several global regions.
• Limited data exists on the clinical characteristics of brucellosis in pediatric populations.
• This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding childhood brucellosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the clinical presentation of pediatric brucellosis.
• To identify common symptoms and risk factors in children diagnosed with brucellosis.
• To provide insights into the management of pediatric brucellosis cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients diagnosed with brucellosis between 2010 and 2020.
• Inclusion criteria: positive serology or blood culture for Brucella.
• Data collected included demographics, clinical signs, symptoms, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Fifty-three children (mean age 11 years, 73.6% male) were included.
• Common symptoms: fever (64.6%), arthralgia (49%), loss of appetite (42.3%), weight loss (24.6%).
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (52.8%) and pancytopenia (15.1%) were also noted. Exposure to unpasteurized milk or livestock was frequent (69.8%).

Conclusions:

• Pediatric brucellosis typically manifests as an acute febrile illness with rheumatologic complaints.
• Older children (8-18 years) may present with additional symptoms like headache, weight loss, and night sweats.
• Brucellosis in children can be effectively treated with intravenous and oral antibiotics, with no mortality observed in this cohort.