Retrospective evaluation of childhood Brucellosis between 2016-2023

Objective: Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the world. It is often contaminated with poorly cooked meat, unpasteurized milk and dairy products. Fever, muscle/joint pain, weakness, and night sweats are often observed. This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of Brucellosis in childhood. Materials and Methods: The study included 103 patients aged 0-18 years old, diagnosed with Brucellosis with a Brucella Capture titer of 1/160 and above, who were admitted to Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Child Health and Diseases Hospital between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2023. The demographic characteristics of the patients, admission complaints, laboratory and imaging results were obtained retrospectively from the hospital system and the information in the patients' files. Results: The average age of the cases was determined as 11.26±4.705 years. The most common complaints were arthralgia (88.3%), fever (65%) and fatigue (65%). When the whole blood and acute phase reactants of the cases were evaluated; CRP elevation in 68.6%, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) elevation in 58.3%, anemia in 36.9%; neutropenia in 10.7%; Thrombocytopenia was detected in 8.7% and pancytopenia was detected in 3.9%. While there was growth in 37.7% of 53 cases from whom blood culture samples were taken, the Brucella Capture titer level was ≥1/160 in all cases. In radiological examination; hepatomegaly in 11.3% of patients; Splenomegaly in 9.4%; Hepatosplenomegaly in 32.1%; Significant pathology was observed in echocardiographic examination in 7.7% (n:8). Additionally, sacroiliitis was detected in 8 (7.7%) cases. All laboratory values were correlated with each other, and when evaluated with advanced regression analysis; It was determined that there was a negative correlation between CRP and platelet count, and a positive correlation between CRP, creatine and ESR (p<0.05). Conclusion: Brucellosis disease may affect more than one system, the clinical and laboratory features of this disease are well known and require close monitoring, if not treated correctly, disease-related complications may develop, and CRP, one of the acute phase reactants, is an important marker in predicting system involvement and the development of complications, We remind that the most effective fight against the disease is preventive measures and training, we emphasize the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of Health, which are among the public authorities, in this regard, and we believe that Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease, can be gradually reduced with good management.