Retrospective Evaluation of Pediatric Patients Hospitalized with Brucellosis: Single Center Study in Istanbul

Aim: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease and mainly develops as a result of consuming products of infected animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs. Material-Methods: Pediatric patients under the age of 18 who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of brucellosis in a third-level city hospital were included in the study. Serology titer ≥1:160 and/or Brucella spp in blood culture growth was determined as the diagnostic criterion for the diagnosis of brucellosis. Results: Of the 35 pediatric patients diagnosed with brucellosis, 22 were boys and 13 were girls, and the average age was determined as 154.2 ± 53.1 months (25-214). Hospital admission complaints were determined in order of frequency as follows; joint pain (51.4%), fever (31.4%), headache (17.1%) and abdominal pain (5.2%). Eleven of the patients (31.4%) had polyarthralgia and 7 (20%) had monoarthralgia. The most common physical examination findings were hepatomegaly (48.6%) and splenomegaly (40%), respectively. Joint involvement was detected in 17.1% of the patients. Sacroiliac joint involvement was reported in 3 (8.6%) patients, ankle joint involvement in 2 (5.7%) patients, and knee joint involvement in 1 (2.9%) patient. Anemia (60%) was the most common hematological finding. The average hemoglobin value was determined as 12.5±1.44 (10.2-15.9) g/dl. When patients are compared in terms of joint involvement; neutrophil count and treatment duration were found to be statistically higher in patients with joint involvement (p<0.05). Conclusion: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that is endemic in our country, affects all age groups, and can cause complications and relapses, and continues to be a serious public health problem for our country.