Distinguishing Features of Adolescents with Undiagnosed Infectious Tuberculosis Attending a Pediatric Emergency Department

Abstract

More than 10 days of fever or 13 days of cough differentiated adolescent patients presenting to a pediatric emergency department with infectious tuberculosis (TB) from most patients with pneumonia. Upper lobe involvement was significantly more common in patients with TB. Symptom- A nd radiograph-based algorithms could minimize TB exposure and aid diagnosis.