Epidemiological, Clinical, Para clinical Aspects of Brucellosis in Imam Khomeini and Sina Hospital of Tehran (1998-2005)

Introduction: Brucellosis is one of the most common infectious diseases in some area of Iran. It has very different clinical sings and symptoms, thus it should be considered in differential diagnosis of most infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Materials and Methods: 415 Brucellosis patients, who referred to Imam Khomeini and Sina Hospitals of Tehran during 1998 to 2005, were studied from epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and treatment protocols aspects.

Results: 52.5% of patients were female and 47.5% male with mean age of 35.5 years old. 84.3% of subjects were living in urban and 15.7% in rural area. The commonest transmission way was consuming of contaminated dairy products however 17.1% of patients had history of animal contact. The most contagious seasons were summer and spring. Family history of brucellosis was positive in 19.51% of the patients. The most common symptoms were fever (67.22%), sweating (73.25%), malaise and fatigue (65.45%), arthralgia (29.15%), headache and coughing. Whilst the most common clinical signs were fever (56.62%), peripheral arthritis, sacroilitis and splenomegaly. CBC analysis showed normal range in majority of subjects. Although doxycycline and Rifampin were the most common prescribed medicines combination of cotrimoxasule and doxycyline showed more efficient effects to control the diseases.

Conclusion: Regarding variable clinical presentations, brucellosis should be considered in differential diagnosis in subjects with chronic fever or chronic fever plus other organs abnormalities.