Congenital tuberculosis

Abstract

Congenital tuberculosis (TB) is a rare and fatal complication of untreated in utero TB; it is difficult to diagnose in time and successfully treat without knowledge of maternal history of TB. The distinction between congenital and early (neonatal) TB is primarily epidemiological and presentation, management, and prognosis are similar. The diagnosis of congenital TB should also be considered in infants in whom pulmonary symptoms do not respond to empiric antibiotic therapy or who have evidence of sepsis or fungemia that is unresponsive to treatment. It is important to keep a high index of suspicion, as only fewer than 50% of the mothers of infants with congenital TB are known to have active TB at the time of delivery. Neonatal mortality due to congenital TB is high and as much as half of the neonates delivered with congenital TB may eventually die, especially in the absence of treatment.