Clinical features in childhood tuberculosis followed in our clinic

Abstract

Objective: Childhood tuberculosis constitutes an important part of the global burden of tuberculosis. Childhood tuberculosis is also important in that it shows that the burden of tuberculosis continues in society. In our study, demographic, clinical, radiological features and treatment modalities of childhood tuberculosis cases were evaluated during 3 years. Material and Methods: This study covers 33 children diagnosed with tuberculosis in the Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital Department of Pediatrics between January 2012 and December 2014. Results: Eleven of the 33 children with tuberculosis were male (33%) and 22 were female (66%) and the median age was 11 (1-17) years. Of the patients, 14 (42%) were pulmonary tuberculosis and 19 (57%) were extrapulmonary tuberculosis. 14 cases (42%) were primary pulmonary tuberculosis, 14 (42%) were tuberculosis of superficial lymph node, 2 (6%) were miliary tuberculosis, 1 (3%) were tuberculous meningitis, 1 (3%) were intestinal tuberculosis, 1 (3%) were vertebra tuberculosis. Household contact was present in 50% of patients who received a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and in 32% of patients who received a diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Weight loss and fever were the most common complaints. 36% in pulmonary tuberculosis, 32% in extrapulmonary tuberculosis had tuberculin skin test positivity. Acid-resistant bacilli (ARB) was positive in 6 (18%) of the patients. 15% of the patients had culture positivity. Treatment regimens were well tolerated in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The treatment was interrupted because only the findings of acute hepatitis developed during the first month of treatment in one patient. A patient was died. Conclusion: In this study, extrapulmonary tuberculosis was more common than pulmonary tuberculosis. It was determined that the treatment was generally well tolerated and the culture positivity rates were low.