Melioidosis in Children, Brazil, 1989–2019
Rachel Ximenes Ribeiro Lima, Dionne Bezerra Rolim
Abstract
M elioidosis, an infectious disease caused by the bacterial species Burkholderia pseudomallei, is associated with severe symptoms and high death rates (1). Although considered an emerging disease, melioidosis has little formal public health recognition (2). Researchers initially documented cases in Brazil in 2003 (3). As of 2018, Cear, a coastal state in northeastern Brazil, has the highest incidence in South America; however, sporadic cases have been reported in other states (4). Although the disease predominantly affects adults with associated risk factors (1), the growing incidence of severe melioidosis among children and adolescents in Cear highlights the need for clinical and epidemiologic investigations.