Difficult management of pediatric acute Q fever
Keywords:
acute Q fever, Acute Q fever; Doxycycline; Paediatric Q fever., pediatric Q feverAbstract
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.
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Copyright (c) 2021 Rafael Costa Figueiredo, Diana R. Monteiro, Ana Isabel Rebelo, Ana Azevedo, Sara Freitas de Oliveira, Susana Tavares
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