Thirty-three patient with brucellosis evaluated retrospectively

Aim: Our country is located in a area where brucellosis is observed endemically. In our study we aimed at evaluating brucellosis in terms of epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings and responsiveness to treatment. Material and Methods: Thirty-three patients diagnosed for brucellosis were followed from May 2005-November 2008 with regards to their age, sex, initial complaints, the risk of transmission of disease, family history, physical examination and laboratory findings. Brucellosis was diagnosed by an increased agglutination titer and/or isolation of the organism by culture in the presence of clinical finding. Results: Patients had an age average of 10.5. Twenty-five of them were males and 8 were females. 74% of them came from the central sub-provinces of Ankara. Their most frequent complaint was joint swelling-pain (87%). This was followed by weakness (64%), fever (58%) and sweat (45%). Their physical examinations revealed arthritis in 14 of the cases, fever in 24, lemphadenopaty in 6, splenomegali one. Brucellosis agglutination titer was reported as 1/320 in 11 of the cases, 1/640 in 10 and 1/640 and higher in 12 of them. Blood culture isolation was detected in the blood culture of two of the patients. 25 patients at the age of 8 and over were given doxacillian and rifampicin and eight patients aged below 8 were given TMP/SMX and rifampicin. No relapses were detected. Conclusion: It is possible to encounter brucellosis with various different clinical symptoms. Within the particular epidemiology of our country, brucellosis should be considered in cases with fever and joint pain complaints. Amaç: Ülkemiz brusellozun endemik görüldüğü coğrafyada bulunmaktadır. Çalışmamızda bruselloz olgularının epidemiyolojik, klinik ve laboratuar bulgularının ve tedavi cevabının değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Yöntem ve Gereç: Mayıs 2005-Kasım 2008 tarihleri arasında bruselloz tanısıyla izlediğimiz 33 olgu yaş, cinsiyet, geliş yakınmaları, bulaş yönünden riskleri, aile öyküsü, fizik muayene ve laboratuar bulguları, uygulanan tedaviler açısından değerlendirmeye alındı. Tanı yüksek brusella aglütinasyon titresi ve/veya kültürde etkenin üretilmesi ile konuldu. Bulgular: Hastaların yaş ortalaması 10.5 yıl olup 25'i erkek, 8'i kızdı. Olguların % 74'ü Ankara'nın merkez ilçelerinden başvurmuştu. En sık görülen yakınma eklem ağrısıydı (% 87). Bunu halsizlik (% 64), ateş (% 58), terleme (% 45) izlemekteydi. Fizik muayenelerinde; olguların 14'ünde artrit , 24 olguda ateş, a