Brucella pleuritis in a 12-year old child; a case report

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease involving several organs. Pulmonary involvement especially pleuritis is extremely rare. Patient: We report a 12-year old boy presented with a 3-week history of fever, chills, and profuse sweating, especially at night. He complained of fatigue, lack of appetite, weight loss, exertional dyspnea, nonproductive cough and mild pleuretic chest pain. Diagnosis of brucella pleuritis was verified by positive blood and pleural fluid culture and serology. Having completed a combined therapy (doxycycline/rifampin) for 3 months, no relapse occurred. Almost all radiological findings disappeared at the end of the therapy. Conclusion: Pulmonary involvement is a rare manifestation of brucellosis, however, it responds well to a combination therapy of rifampin and doxycycline.