Related Experiment Videos
Chronic Q fever endocarditis with massive splenomegaly in childhood
The Journal of Pediatrics
|April 1, 1986
Insights
Q fever can affect children with congenital heart disease, presenting with fever, anemia, and enlarged organs. This study shows children can experience the same Q fever symptoms as adults.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) can predispose individuals to various complications.
- Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonotic infection typically seen in adults.
Observation:
- Two pediatric patients with pre-existing CHD presented with persistent fever, anemia, and hepatosplenomegaly.
- Intracardiac vegetations were identified in both children.
Findings:
- Both children were diagnosed with Q fever, confirmed by evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection.
- The clinical presentation in these children mirrored that typically observed in adult Q fever cases.
Implications:
- This study highlights that Q fever can manifest similarly in children with CHD as it does in adults.
- Increased awareness of Q fever in pediatric cardiology is warranted for early diagnosis and treatment.
Abstract:
Two children with congenital heart disease developed persistent fever, anemia, and hepatosplenomegaly. Both were shown to have intracardiac vegetations and evidence of infection with Coxiella burnetti. Thus, the same clinical manifestations of Q fever may develop in both children and adults.