Pulmonary tuberculosis in Italian children by age at presentation.
Minerva Pediatr
; 56(2): 189-95, 2004 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15249903
ABSTRACT
AIM:
To evaluate the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods and outcome of paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in relation to children's ages when observed.METHODS:
Children under 15, who had been admitted to the Children's Hospital with PTB were prospectively evaluated. Our sample included patients with a positive tuberculin skin test and signs or symptoms of tuberculosis (TB), including abnormal chest X-rays which suggested PTB. We collected demographic, clinical, radiographic and microbiological data from the patients, in addition to carrying out contact investigations in order to find a source case. All the patients involved in this study were subjected to anti-tuberculosis treatment.RESULTS:
Sixty-two patients (44% under 5) were eligible for inclusion in our study. Children with presenting symptoms were younger than asymptomatic patients (p<0.05). A source case was found in 38 patients out of 62 children (62%) and children under 5 were more likely to have a source case than that found with older children (p<0.05). Ghon complex (infiltrate + adenopathy) tended to occur in young children (median age of 3.25, p<0.05). Fourteen children (23%) had clinical specimens which tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT), and 20 (32%) for MT DNA according to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Resistant strains to 1 or more anti-tuberculosis drugs were found in 5 children and in 4 adult sources. The patients with minimal or no radiographic change during therapy displayed symptoms for a longer period of time and were infected by a resistant strain (p<0.05).CONCLUSION:
Improvements in case detection, case management and contact investigations are necessary for controlling paediatric TB, especially in young children. Given that any diagnosis of TB in children is supported by epidemiological and clinical evidence rather than isolating MT, detection of the source case is important in selecting appropriate treatment.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Contexto en salud:
2_ODS3
/
3_ND
Problema de salud:
2_enfermedades_transmissibles
/
3_neglected_diseases
/
3_tuberculosis
Asunto principal:
Tuberculosis Pulmonar
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Minerva Pediatr
Año:
2004
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia