Pediatric Q Fever

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe non-specific presentation of acute Q fever makes it difficult to diagnose in children, but untreated Q fever can result in chronic infections that have severe complications.Recent FindingsPediatric Q fever cases continue to be infrequently reported in the literature, and primarily document cases of persistent infections withCoxiella burnetii. Standardized treatment protocols for chronic Q fever in children still do not exist. Doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine are the treatment combination most utilized by healthcare providers to treat Q fever endocarditis or osteomyelitis in children, but a variety of other antibiotic combinations have been reported with varying results. The use of adjunctive therapies, such as such as interferon gamma, has produced mixed outcomes.SummaryThe true impact ofCoxiella burnetii on the health of children remains unknown; long-term longitudinal follow-up of children with acute or chronic Q fever has not been reported. Both the acute and chronic forms of Q fever are underreported and underdiagnosed. Healthcare providers should consider Q fever in pediatric patients with culture-negative endocarditis or osteomyelitis.
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research