Human brucellosis - Retrospective study of 63 patients in Liban

Objectives We performed an epidemiological survey to ascertain the clinical features of brucellosis in Lebanon. Patients and methods Between 1994 and 1998, 63 patients were seen at the Ho tel-Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut Lebanon. Diagnostic criteria were bru cellar agglutinins at a titer greater than or equal to 1/160 with symptoms suggestive of brucellosis in the absence of another diagnosis. We also cond ucted a Survey in 1138 cases registered by the Ministry of Health during th e same period. Results among the 1137 cases, 40% of the patients were over 60 and only 16% were under 14. The overall male to female ratio was 1.01 and 69% of the pa tients were seen in spring and summer. Among the 63 patients, 10 were pedia tric cases. The disease was acute in 41 (65%), subacute in 21 (33%) and chr onic in 1. The main presenting symptoms were fever, sweating, easy fatigabi lity and joint pain. Osteoarticular involvement was the most prevalent comp lication (25%), predominantly spondylitis. Among the blood tests, relative lymphocytosis was significantly more frequent in children than adults (80% versus 13%, p < 0.001). Conclusion Brucellosis is still an endemic disease in Lebanon and should be considered notably in patients presenting with prolonged fever, and articu lar and neurological manifestations.