Prevalence and Risk Factors of Infectious Spondylodiscitis in Benin’s Children

Abstract

Aim: To determine the prevalence and risk factor of infectious spondy-lodiscitis in children in Benin. Patients and Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study over 5 years was conducted in rheumatology and paedi-atric departments of National Hospital University Hubert Koutoukou Maga of Cotonou among children suffered from osteoarticular disorders. We selected patients with infectious spondylodyscitis. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software. Results: Among 179 children treated for os-teo-articular disorders, 29 (16.2%) had infectious spondylodiscitis. There were 11 girls and 18 boys (sex ratio = 1.55). The main symptoms were dominated by low back pain (72.4). Fever was present in 58.6% of patients. Laboratory parameters of inflammation were higher than normal in all of the patients. Paraparesia was present in one case. L2-L3 disc was most affected (45.2% of cases). Mycobacterium tuberculosis was incriminated in 75,8%. Common places germs were dominated by negative baccillus germs (62.5%). The treat-ment was medical with a minimum duration of 3 months. All patients were immobilized with a lumbostat over a period of 3 months. Sicle cells disease, HIV, no BCG vaccination were the risk factors identified respectively in 9.4%, 11.3% and 16%. Conclusion: Diagnosis of spondylodiscitis in children is diffi-cult in our country Keeping in mind unspecific subjective complaints and clinical findings. Early diagnosis uses magnetic resonance imaging which cost high and remains beyond the reach of our patients. Therefore, effective anti-biotic therapy should be started promptly as soon as the diagnosis is sus-pected to avoid serious complications.