Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Melioidosis in Paediatric Patients: A Case Series

Kecheng Wan,* Yingjie Liu,* Yuwen Chen, Song Sun, Hong Liang Department of Paediatrics, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), Haikou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong Lia...

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Main Authors: Wan K, Liu Y, Chen Y, Sun S, Liang H
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-03-01
Series:Infection and Drug Resistance
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/hemophagocytic-lymphohistiocytosis-secondary-to-melioidosis-in-paediat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR
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author Wan K
Liu Y
Chen Y
Sun S
Liang H
author_facet Wan K
Liu Y
Chen Y
Sun S
Liang H
author_sort Wan K
collection DOAJ
description Kecheng Wan,* Yingjie Liu,* Yuwen Chen, Song Sun, Hong Liang Department of Paediatrics, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), Haikou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong Liang, Department of paediatrics, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), No. 19, Xiuhua Road, Xiuying District, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570311, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 898963399, Email lianghong_lhlh@163.comBackground: Melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei manifests as a variety of infectious symptoms. However, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) secondary to bacteraemic melioidosis is rarely documented in the literature. We report a series of fatal cases of melioidosis combined with HLH in one Chinese family.Case Presentation: Three cases of melioidosis with HLH were reported in a family with three children, two boys aged 4 and 6 years and a 12-year-old girl. The most common clinical presentation was fever. A blood culture confirmed B. pseudomallei, and bone marrow aspiration revealed hemophagocytosis. Despite the administration of antibiotics, glucocorticoids and other treatments, all the patients died, and their deaths were attributed to HLH.Conclusion: Melioidosis complicating HLH is rare in occurrence, but the mortality rate is high. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of a B. pseudomallei bloodstream infection in children.Keywords: melioidosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, family
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series Infection and Drug Resistance
spelling doaj-art-dafe74849f134ca0b5cb716df9709a1d2025-08-20T03:39:45ZengDove Medical PressInfection and Drug Resistance1178-69732025-03-01Volume 1815611566101317Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Melioidosis in Paediatric Patients: A Case SeriesWan KLiu YChen YSun SLiang HKecheng Wan,* Yingjie Liu,* Yuwen Chen, Song Sun, Hong Liang Department of Paediatrics, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), Haikou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong Liang, Department of paediatrics, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), No. 19, Xiuhua Road, Xiuying District, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570311, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 898963399, Email lianghong_lhlh@163.comBackground: Melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei manifests as a variety of infectious symptoms. However, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) secondary to bacteraemic melioidosis is rarely documented in the literature. We report a series of fatal cases of melioidosis combined with HLH in one Chinese family.Case Presentation: Three cases of melioidosis with HLH were reported in a family with three children, two boys aged 4 and 6 years and a 12-year-old girl. The most common clinical presentation was fever. A blood culture confirmed B. pseudomallei, and bone marrow aspiration revealed hemophagocytosis. Despite the administration of antibiotics, glucocorticoids and other treatments, all the patients died, and their deaths were attributed to HLH.Conclusion: Melioidosis complicating HLH is rare in occurrence, but the mortality rate is high. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of a B. pseudomallei bloodstream infection in children.Keywords: melioidosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, familyhttps://www.dovepress.com/hemophagocytic-lymphohistiocytosis-secondary-to-melioidosis-in-paediat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDRmelioidosisburkholderia pseudomalleihemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosisfamily
spellingShingle Wan K
Liu Y
Chen Y
Sun S
Liang H
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Melioidosis in Paediatric Patients: A Case Series
Infection and Drug Resistance
melioidosis
burkholderia pseudomallei
hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
family
title Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Melioidosis in Paediatric Patients: A Case Series
title_full Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Melioidosis in Paediatric Patients: A Case Series
title_fullStr Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Melioidosis in Paediatric Patients: A Case Series
title_full_unstemmed Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Melioidosis in Paediatric Patients: A Case Series
title_short Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Melioidosis in Paediatric Patients: A Case Series
title_sort hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to melioidosis in paediatric patients a case series
topic melioidosis
burkholderia pseudomallei
hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
family
url https://www.dovepress.com/hemophagocytic-lymphohistiocytosis-secondary-to-melioidosis-in-paediat-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR
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