Difficult management of pediatric acute Q fever

• Autor(a) principal: Figueiredo,Rafael Costa
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Monteiro,Diana R., Rebelo,Ana Isabel, Azevedo,Ana, Oliveira,Sara Freitas de, Tavares,Susana
• Tipo de documento: Relatório
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0872-07542021000300179
• topic: acute Q fever; doxycycline; pediatric Q fever

Abstract Introduction: Q fever, a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetti, is relatively rare in the pediatric population. The disease is often asymptomatic or with mild clinical presentation in children. Case report: A four-year-old boy with persistent fever, severe anemia, and positive IgM for Coxiella burnetti was treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin, with no improvement. After polymerase chain reaction confirmation, he completed 14 days of doxycycline, with good response. After eleven months, the child remains asymptomatic. Discussion: Despite having a usually mild presentation, the severe clinical progression and lack of response to initial antibiotic therapy in this case prompt the use of doxycycline, a non-consensual drug in younger ages, with good results. New recommendations endorse the use of this drug for short periods at any age.