All issues > Volume 35(9); 1992

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1992;35(9):1220-1225. Published online September 15, 1992.

Clinical Features of Twelve Coxiellemia Pediatric Patients in Korea

Chuhl-Joo CJ Lyu¹, Dong Soo DS Kim¹, Young Mo YM Sohn¹, Ki Sup KS Chung¹, Kir-Young KY Kim¹, Won Young WY Lee²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Coxiella burnetii is a rickettsial organism and extremely infectious for humans animals. The infection caused by this organism is endemic throughout the world. Although it has not been reported in Korea because of the nonspecific clinical manifestations, the difficulties in diagnosis, and the underestimate of this disease. Update this infection has been misdiagnosed as other disease. We experienced twelve cases of Coxiellemia pediatric patients. They are from 3 months to fifteen years old. The distribution of age was eve. All complained fever, there were rash in five(42%) and sore throat in four of twelve(33%), and cough in three(25%). The duratio of fever ranged from 3 days to about two months intermittently. At the diagnosis, lymphadenopathy was present in six(50%), hepatomegaly in six(50%) and splenomegaly in three(25%). Eight patients received rifampin only or with other antibiotics, but three patients were not treated with such antibiotics. All patients recovered completely. The fever and other symptoms were disappeared within seven days. We concluded that Korea is not remained the area beyond the endemic of Coxiellemia. We may find many cases of this disease if we try to find with interest, especially in patients with prolonged fever of unknown etiology and with abnormal hematologic findings.

Keywords :Coxiella burnetii