Case report: A case of brucellosis misdiagnosed as coronavirus disease 2019/influenza in China

Brucellosis is an important zoonosis and a multisystem disease. The signs and symptoms of brucellosis are not specific. In the clinical, brucellosis is often ignored and misdiagnosed. We report a case of brucellosis who was misdiagnosed as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)/influenza and received delayed treatment during strict COVID-19 control. The neglect of other diseases due to COVID-19 and empirical diagnosis and treatment by medical staff are part of the reasons for misdiagnosis. Otherwise, the normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), increased white blood cell count (WBC), and increased neutrophil count (NEUT) of this patient was also a cause of misdiagnosis, which is an important reminder for diagnosis. For patients with the unknown origin of fever and other symptoms related to brucellosis, especially those from endemic areas of brucellosis, brucellosis screening is a priority item, and grassroots doctors should be vigilant and standardize the diagnosis and treatment based on epidemiology history, clinical manifestation, and laboratory tests according to the diagnostic criteria of brucellosis.

Automated summary

Brucellosis is a significant zoonotic disease with non-specific symptoms that are often overlooked and misdiagnosed in clinical practice. This case report highlights a misdiagnosis of brucellosis as COVID-19/influenza during strict COVID-19 control measures, leading to delayed treatment. Neglecting other diseases due to the COVID-19 pandemic and empirical diagnosis and treatment by medical staff contribute to misdiagnosis. Additionally, normal ESR, increased WBC, and increased NEUT also played a role in misdiagnosis, emphasizing the importance of considering brucellosis in patients with fever of unknown origin and related symptoms, especially those from endemic areas. Screening for brucellosis should be prioritized, and healthcare professionals should follow standardized diagnostic criteria based on epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, and laboratory tests.