Clinical Manifestations and Laboratory Findings in Childhood Brucellosis, Ningxia Region, China: A Retrospective Study

Background: This study aims to analyze the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in pediatric brucellosis between May 2019 and September 2022. Methods: Demographic characteristics, clinical data, and laboratory test results of 126 cases were systematically evaluated. Results: Among the cases, 76 (60.32%) were male and 50 (39.68%) were female. A total of 96.03% had a history of close contact with sheep/goats, which increases the risk of infection in local children. The most common symptoms were fever (96/126; 76.19%), joint pain (95/126; 75.40%), and fatigue (61/126; 48.41%). The most common complications were knee joint effusion (51/126; 40.48%) and gastrointestinal disturbances (51/126; 40.48%). The present analysis highlights that Brucella infection causes significant health complications in children, primarily hematological abnormalities (e.g., White Blood Cell (WBC) and Platelet (PLT) disturbances), along with frequent elevations in liver enzymes (Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)), cardiac markers (Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Creatine Kinase-MB [CK-MB)), and inflammatory markers (C Reactive Protein (CRP)). Four indices measured were significantly elevated in Brucella-infected patients, including ALT (p = 0.01), AST (p = 0.001), LDH (p p = 0.027). Following treatment, 89 patients (70.6%) demonstrated significant clinical improvement. Conclusions: This study’s findings indicate that brucellosis can lead to severe complications in children, potentially impairing normal development. Timely diagnosis and immediate therapeutic intervention are crucial for reducing disease severity and complications.