brucellosis a common infectious cause of Pyrexia of unknown origin in Kuwait?

ABSTRACT

To investigate the prevalence of brucellosis and to compare it with other causes of pyrexia of unknown origin [PUO] in Kuwait Retrospective study Infectious Disease Hospital, Kuwait All patients admitted to Infectious Disease Hospital with a diagnosis of PUO between January 2001 and December 2004 were included in this study. Age, gender, nationality, occupation, residence and laboratory investigations One hundred thirty six patients were admitted with PUO to the hospital. Their mean age was 36.7 +/- 11.69 years [range 14-80 years]. The mean duration of hospitalization was 8.7 +/- 7.8 days. Infectious diseases were the most common causes of PUO. Brucellosis was diagnosed in 80 [58.8%] patients, respiratory tract infection in 10 [7.4%], gastrointestinal diseases in 14 [10.3%] and HIV was diagnosed in three patients. Other diseases such as thyroiditis and glaucomatous hepatitis were diagnosed in 15 [11%] patients. Brucellosis patients had high alanine amino transferase [ALT] level and lower white blood cell [WBC] count than other PUO patients [56.9 +/- 40.6 Vs. 38 +/- 31.4, p < 0.003 and 7.1 +/- 3.9 Vs. 8.5 +/- 4.04, p < 0.01 respectively]. Brucellosis was common among Asian population [58.8% compared to Gulf residents 31.3% and other nationals 10%, p = 0.022]. Brucellosis is common among patients in high-risk occupations [62.5% compared to non-high risk occupations 37.5%, p < 0.0001]. Brucellosis is the common infectious cause of PUO among Asian and patients in high-risk occupations in Kuwait