Evaluation of Osteoarticular Involvement Associated with Brucellosis in Children

Aim: Brucellosis is a significant public health problem with high morbidity. Its most frequent complication is osteoarticular involvement. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship of osteoarticular involvement with clinical features and prognosis in children with brucellosis. Material and Methods: This retrospective study included pediatric patients between the ages of 1 and 18 years who were hospitalized and diagnosed with brucellosis between 2015 and 2020, and were regularly followed up. Aand all their findings and osteoarticular involvement data within the last two years were recorded. Clinical features, laboratory findings, osteoarticular involvement, and relapse rates of the patients were evaluated. Results: A total of 80 patients were included study. During the follow-up period, relapse developed in 14 (17.5%) patients. The most commonly affected joints were right (40%, n=32) and left (26.3%, n=21) hips, then right (27.5%, n=22) and left (23.8%, n=19) knees. Shoulder joint involvement rates and C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were statistically significantly higher in the relapse group (p=0.016, p=0.003, p=0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics, clinical features, and treatment responses of the patients between age groups, except weakness and sweating complaints that were high among older children (p=0.036). Conclusion: High admission ALT, AST, CRP, and ESR levels in brucellosis cases with osteoarticular involvement and the presence of shoulder joint involvement, albeit rarely, can be a warning sign in terms of relapse. Patients should be closely followed up in terms of brucellosis complications.

Dergi

DUZCE MEDICAL JOURNAL

Yıl

2025

Cilt

27

Sayı

1

Sayfa

75-80

eISSN

1307-671X

DOI

10.18678/dtfd.1579167

WoS UID

WOS:001484304100013