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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Delayed diagnosis of pediatric brucellosis: a case study and literature review
Chunsong Pang1, Lina Liu1, Ting Liu1
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Insights
Brucellosis, a common zoonotic disease, is often misdiagnosed due to vague symptoms. Early diagnosis using tests like the tube agglutination test is crucial for effective treatment and preventing complications.
Area of Science:
- Zoonotic diseases
- Infectious diseases
- Medical case reports
Background:
- Brucellosis is a significant global zoonotic infection.
- Misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis are common challenges due to nonspecific symptoms.
- Delayed diagnosis can lead to complications and prolonged treatment.
Introduction And Importance:
Brucellosis is globally acknowledged as the predominant zoonotic infection afflicting humans. Misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis pose significant challenges in the diagnosis of brucellosis due to the potential risk of overlooking or misinterpreting symptoms.
Case Presentation:
This article reports a case of a 10-year-old girl with brucellosis, presenting with fever, rash on both lower limbs, and pain in the right ankle joint. The patient underwent 10 days of inaccurate treatment at a local hospital without improvement, and then sought treatment at a provincial hospital. Considering that it was the peak season for Mycoplasma pneumonia infection, she received intravenous cefotaxime combined with oral azithromycin for anti-infection treatment after admission. Six days later, blood cultures showed positive for Brucella, and it was learned that the child's family raised sheep. She was ultimately diagnosed with brucellosis.
Clinical Discussion:
In this case, if medical staff had been fully aware of the relevant issues and promptly conducted corresponding laboratory tests, such as the tube agglutination test (SAT) or the colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay, the patient might have received effective treatment earlier.
Conclusion:
Brucellosis often has nonspecific symptoms that can lead to misdiagnosis or delays in diagnosis. However, early intervention can reduce complications, shorten treatment time, and improve outcomes. Therefore, developing effective diagnostic tests for brucellosis is crucial for timely detection and management. Additionally, healthcare professionals need a thorough understanding of the disease's clinical signs and diagnostic challenges to ensure accurate and prompt diagnoses.
