Epidemiological Analysis of Childhood Brucellosis in Duhok, Iraq: A Retrospective Observational Study From 2018 to 2021

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animal to human through contaminated dairy products, raw vegetables, and water or via direct contact with infected animal tissues. While the disease affects individuals of all ages, research on its prevalence and clinical profile, particularly in Iraq, is limited. To address this knowledge gap, a retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the Bacterial Serology Laboratory of Heevi Pediatric Teaching Hospital, Duhok, Iraq, from 2018 to 2021. Of the 1,032 suspected cases of brucellosis in children, 72 cases that met the inclusion were analyzed. The study found a 7% prevalence of childhood brucellosis in the Duhok region, with the highest incidence of 7.8% in 2020. The infection rate was age-dependent, with most cases occurring in the year's third quarter. No statistically significant relationship was found between sex and the infection rate. These findings highlight the importance of targeted public health interventions and improved diagnostic protocols to reduce the prevalence of brucellosis among children in this region.