1365. How Severe Are Rickettsial Infections Among Children

BACKGROUND: Rickettsial infections (RI) usually mimic benign viral infection due to similarities in clinical symptoms. However, severe forms and complications have been reported with rickettsiosis. Children can be affected as well. We aimed to study the particularities of RI among children. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including all patients aged ≤ 18 years hospitalized for RI between 2000 and 2018. The diagnosis was confirmed by serologies (seroconversion). RESULTS: In total, we encountered 59 children with confirmed RI, among whom 45 were male (76.3%). The mean age was 14 ±3 years. Forty children had a close contact with animals (71.4%). All patients consulted for a febrile maculopapular skin rash, which was associated to headache in 45 cases (76.3%), vomiting in 28 cases (47.4%) and cough in 8 cases (13.5%). Physical examination revealed an eschar in 13 cases (22%) and meningeal syndrome in 11 cases (18.6%). Laboratory investigations showed thrombocytopenia (31 cases; 52.5%) and liver cytolysis (26 cases; 44%). Severe forms of RI were represented by meningitis in 11 cases (18.6%), pneumonia in 2 cases (3.3%) and myocarditis in one case (1.6%). The treatment was based on doxycycline in 42 cases (71.2%), fluoroquinolones in 10 cases (17%) and macrolide in 7 cases (11.8%) for children aged less than 8 years. The mean duration of treatment was 9 ±3 days. The disease evolution was favourable in all cases. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of RI among children should be largely based on high index of suspicion, careful clinical and laboratory results. Prompt diagnosis is crucial in order to start antibiotics and avoid, therefore, fatal untreated forms. DISCLOSURES: All Authors: No reported disclosures