Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine,
Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkiye
Note: [] Correspondence: Sevil Arı Yuca, MD,
Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department
of Pediatrics, 65200 Van, Turkiye. Tel.: +90 432 215 04 70; Fax: +90 432 215 04
79; E-mail: sevilyuca@yahoo.com
Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different
drug combinations for treatment of brucellosis in children. Sixty children
(mean age 9.2 ± 3.1 years, range 10 months to 15 years) were treated
with four different drug combinations. The diagnosis of brucellosis was
established by positive serum agglutination titer, and/or the isolation of
Brucella species from blood cultures. The most frequent findings were fever and
arthritis in 12 (20% and 13 (21.6%) patients respectively. The children under 8
years old comprised Group 1 and 2, and older than 8 years comprised Group 3 and
4 according to treatment regimens. Nine patients (Group 1) were treated with
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) for 45 days plus ceftriaxone for 5 days
and, rest nine patients (Group 2) were managed with TMP-SMZ for 45 days plus
gentamicin for 5 days. Twenty-one patients (Group 3) were managed with
doxycycline for 45 days and ceftriaxone for 5 days and, other 21 (Group 4)
patients were managed with doxycycline for 45 days and gentamicin for 5 days.
All patients recovered. Relapse and improvement rates were similar for all
groups (P>0.05). Each regimen was effective in the treatment of childhood
brucellosis. Using cheaper drugs such as doxycycline and gentamicin in children
8 years of age and older, and TMP-SMZ and gentamicin in children 7 years of age
or younger for the treatment of brucellosis in children is a practical and
useful approach in our region and in the developing countries.
