The clinical features and treatment ofBrucellosis disease in 24 children / 临床儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical features and treatment ofBrucellosis disease in children in recent years.Methods The clinical data of 24 children withBrucellosis disease admitted during January 2011 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.Results In 24 children, 18 was male and 6 was female and average age was 9.8±3.13 years (4-14 years). Twenty-four children were diagnosed withBrucellosis disease by positive tiger red plate agglutination tests and their antibody titer was 1800-1100. The children lived mainly in the pastoral areas; four cases (16.67%) had sick family members and cattle and sheep; three cases (12.5%) had histoty of contact only with sick family members; 12 cases (50.00%) had cattle and sheep exposure history; 3 cases (12.5%) had raised cattle or sheep at home in the past 2 years; 2 cases (8.33%) had not have clear transmission route. The onset of the disease occurred year round, with the highest incidence in June and July. The common clinical symptoms were fever, arthralgia, weak, sweat, and anorexia, combined with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Patients younger than 8 years old were treated with rifampin and sulfamethoxazole. Patients equal to or older than 8 years old were treated with doxycycline and rifampin. Twenty-three children had been cured after treatment. Only one child stopped taking the drugs 3 weeks after discharge, which resulted in recurrence.Conclusion For children living in pasturing area suffered with unexplained recurrent fever, brucellosis disease should be considered and ruled out.