• Mile Bosilkovski, Bachir Khezzani, Kostadin Poposki, Osmani LlogaArlindaA0009-0002-9434-1115University hospital for infectious diseases and febrile conditions, Medical Faculty, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, North Macedonia., and Marija Dimzova.
• University hospital for infectious diseases and febrile conditions, Medical Faculty, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, North Macedonia.
• Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 2024 Dec 4.

BackgroundBrucellosis is a zoonotic infection that presents a major challenge to public health worldwide.AimThis research compares demographic characteristics, clinical features, and outcomes across different age groups in patients with human brucellosis.Material And MethodsBetween 2003 and 2022 a total of 508 patients with brucellosis were subjected to diagnostics and treatment at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Skopje. The patients were classified into three age groups: children (up to 14 years old), adults (from 14-64 years) and older adults (older than 64 years). The demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes between patients from the different age groups were retrospectively evaluated.ResultsA family history of brucellosis (p < 0.001), fever (p = 0.013), and hepatosplenomegaly (p < 0.001) were significantly more prevalent in children compared to other age groups. Direct contact with animals (p < 0.001), arthralgia (p = 0.007), and weight loss (p = 0.004) were significantly less frequent in children, whereas the duration of illness before brucellosis diagnosis was significantly shorter in children (p < 0.001) compared to other age groups. Sacroiliitis was more predominant in adults than children (p = 0.043), while focal hematological involvement was more prevalent in children than in adults (p = 0.004). Spondylitis was more dominant in the old age group compared to the other two age groups (p < 0.001). Favorable outcomes were achieved in 88.5% of children, 89.9% of adults, and 87.1% of older patients with specific treatment.ConclusionBrucellosis presents highly variable clinical and epidemiological features across all age groups; however, certain characteristics may be associated with age.© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.

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