Related Experiment Videos
Haematological manifestations of childhood brucellosis
1Dept. of Paediatrics (39), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Brucellosis in children frequently causes blood abnormalities like anemia and leukopenia. This study highlights these hematological changes, emphasizing their importance in diagnosing pediatric brucellosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- Limited data exist on hematological abnormalities in pediatric brucellosis.
- Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection with diverse clinical manifestations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and types of hematological changes in children with active brucellosis.
- To identify key hematological indicators associated with pediatric brucellosis.
Main Methods:
- Prospective investigation of 110 children (2 months to 14 years) with confirmed brucellosis.
- Detailed analysis of peripheral blood counts, including anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia.
- Evaluation of associated conditions like hemolysis, neutropenia, lymphopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Main Results:
- Anemia observed in 44% of patients, with 4 cases of hemolysis.
- Leukopenia in 33%, characterized by neutropenia and/or lymphopenia.
- Thrombocytopenia in 5% and pancytopenia in 14%, with one case of disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Conclusions:
- Brucellosis in children commonly presents with significant hematological abnormalities.
- Hematological findings such as hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia warrant consideration for brucellosis, especially with epidemiological suspicion.
Abstract:
Very few data on the frequency and diversity of haematological abnormalities occurring in brucellosis in children have been reported. In the present study 110 children (56 boys and 54 girls; age range, 2 months to 14 years) with proven brucellosis were investigated to determine the haematological changes during the active course of this infection. Anaemia was detected in 48 (44%) patients, of whom four had evidence of haemolysis. Leukopenia occurred in 33% of the cases, with neutropenia and/or lymphopenia being the most striking features encountered. Thrombocytopenia was found in six (5%) patients and pancytopenia in 15 (14%) patients, of whom one developed disseminated intravascular coagulation. Clinically detectable bleeding occurred in five (4.5%) patients whose platelet counts were significantly low. Hypersplenism, haemophagocytosis and granulomatous lesions of the bone marrow appear to play a fundamental role in producing these abnormalities of the peripheral blood. Brucellosis may be considered in patients whose blood picture reveals haemolytic anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or pancytopenia, particularly when the disease is epidemiologically suspected.