[Diagnostic difficulties in pulmonary tuberculosis in children]

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis in children remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality around the world.

Aim: To evaluate the difficulty of diagnosis and the epidemiological, clinical, radiological and bacteriological features of pulmonary tuberculosis in children.

Material and method: We analyzed in a descriptive and retrospective study, 254 children with pulmonary tuberculosis hospitalized in Pulmonary Pediatric Department of Iaşi during Jan 2000 - Dec 2005. The surveyed parameters include: the history of TB contact and BCG vaccination, the social condition, the nutrition status, the size of PPD induration, the clinical aspects, the microbiological results, chest X-ray, Quantiferon test.

Results: Of the total number of cases: 65.4% had poor social conditions, 72.8% cases with TB contact, almost all patients with malnutrition I, 53.5% cases with BCG scar = 3 mm, 58.35% children with positive tuberculin skin test, 61.8% cases with acute onset, 24.8% with microbiological confirmation, 63.8% with hilar involvement, 18 cases with positive Quantiferon test.

Conclusions: 1. The early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children is often difficult. 2. Pulmonary tuberculosis in children must be a priority of the public health programs for extending the area of diagnostic methods.