Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

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ISSN 1681-715X

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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Volume 25

January - March 2009

Number 1


 

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Relapsed human brucellosis
and related risk factors

Syed Muhammad Alavi1, Syed Mohammad Reza Alavi2, Leil Alavi3

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine risk factors of relapse among outpatient treated brucellosis.

Methodology: It is a Cohort study carried out from 2004 to 2006, in an Infectious Diseases Clinic in Ahvaz, Iran. We studied 115 patients with brucellosis. The diagnostic criteria were the finding of >1/80 (Wright) with a 2 mercaptoethanol (2 ME) >1/40, in association with compatible clinical findings (back pain, sweating and fever). Treatment by standard drug regimen against brucellosis was established according to National Program against Brucellosis (NPB) in Iran. The patients were evaluated at the end of treatment and after two, four and six months by clinical and serological examinations. Patients with relapse and patients without relapse were placed separately in two groups. The data in the two groups were statistically compared with SPSS, 11.5 by chi square test.

Results: Of the 115 patients, 12 were excluded because of study’s exclusion criteria. Of 93 studied patients 17 (18.3%) had relapse, results in whom are as fallow: 12 (70.6%) had longer than three months duration of the symptoms prior to diagnosis (P=0.0001). 100% of relapses were in male (P=0.003). Aging was associated with increased risk of relapses (P=0.04). Eleven patients (64.6%) had lymphopenia (P<0.0001). Increased in ESR and CRP values were observed in 16(94.1%) and 17(100%), respectively (P<0.0001).No significant difference in antimicrobial regimen or high risk occupation was observed between two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The present study showed that aging, gender, chronic infection and lymphopenia are risk factors for relapsing brucellosis.

KEY WORDS: Brucellosis, Relapse, Risk factors.

Pak J Med Sci    January - March 2009    Vol. 25 No. 1    46-50

How to cite this article:

Alavi SM, Alavi SMR, Alavi L. Relapsed human brucellosis and related risk factors. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(1):46-50.


1. Dr. Seyed Mohammad Alavi, MD
2. Dr. Syed Mohammad Reza Alavi, PhD
Statistic Department,
Shahid Chamran, University,
Ahwaz, Iran.
3. Dr. Leila Alavi, VMD
Shahid Chamran University,
Ahwaz, Iran.
1.3 Joundishapoor Infectious and
Tropical Diseases Research Center,
Infectious disease ward in Razi hospital
Affiliated to Joundishapour,
University of Medical Sciences,
Ahwaz, Iran.

Correspondence

Dr. Seyed Mohammad Alavi,
Razi Hospital,
Infectious Diseases Ward, Ahvaz, Iran.
Email: alavi1329dr@yahoo.com

* Received for Publication: February 11, 2008
* Accepted for Publication: December 20, 2008



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