Mortality among hospitalized children with melioidosis in Thailand: a retrospective national database…

Cohort studyThe Lancet regional health. Southeast Asia· Dec 2025

Mortality among hospitalized children with melioidosis in Thailand: a retrospective national database analysis (2015-2023).

Phanthila Sitthikarnkha, Sirapoom Niamsanit, Leelawadee Techasatian … Rattapon Uppala

Pediatric Infection & VaccinationCohort studyQ1IF 4.3

Hospitalized children with melioidosis in Thailand had a 1.7% death rate.

Mortality among hospitalized children with melioidosis in Thailand: a retrospective national database analysis (2015-2023).

Phanthila Sitthikarnkha … Rattapon Uppala

The Lancet regional health · Dec 2025

Background

Pediatric melioidosis remains under-characterized nationally in Thailand, hindering triage and critical-care planning.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of Thailand's National Health Security Office database from January 2015 to Dec 2023, including patients <18 years with principal melioidosis.

n = 84 children

Results

1.7%

less than 1 in 50 hospitalized children with melioidosis died

n = 84 children

More results

Among 5044 admissions, 58.3% were male and 80.5% from the Northeast; annual incidence ranged 3.7-5.8 per 100,000, peaking in 2023.

Median length of hospital stay was 11 days.

Lower respiratory tract infection was the commonest localized focus (17.6%), followed by septic shock (2.9%).

More results

There were 2.3% required intubation with mechanical ventilation >96 h, and 2.2% needed renal replacement therapy.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

National data identify a Northeast-weighted pediatric burden and a high-risk trajectory from pneumonia to acute respiratory failure, shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Embedding pediatric sepsis bundles with early melioidosis-active therapy and seasonal pediatric intensive care unit (pediatric intensive care unit) surge/transfer protocols, may shorten time-to-treatment and reduce deaths substantially and equitably.

Mortality among hospitalized children with melioidosis in Thailand: a retrospective national database analysis (2015-2023).

Mortality among hospitalized children with melioidosis in Thailand: a retrospective national database analysis (2015-2023).

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