Changing trends in the clinical profile of childhood in tuberculosis patients -at a tertiary centre

Abstract

The aim: To study the clinical profile of childhood tuberculosis in the age group of 6 months to 12 years.
 Materials and methods: This сross-sectional study was conducted on patients of tuberculosis who were admitted for treatment. A total of 75 patients were enrolled in the study who are of age group: 6 months to 12 years and Stengen score>3.
 Results: Approximately 50 % of the study population was under 5 years. 39 % belonged to the age group of 8–12 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.02. 36 % of the study population belonged to the lower class. 33.33 % of the study population belonged to the middle class. One-quarter of the patients were not malnourished. Among the ones who were malnourished, 36 % belonged to Grade I, and 53.33 % had a Stengen score of 5–6. 46.66 % had a Stengen score of 46.66 %. Acid Fast Bacilli in 1.33 %, 18.66 % had tubercle present, 82.66 % had Mantoux positive, which was >10mm, and 62.66 % of them had suggestive radiology of tuberculosis, where the fever was present in 90 % of the study population. Fever with <2 weeks duration was present in 52 %, and the rest had a fever for more than two weeks. Cough was present in 77 % of the study population. Weight loss was present in 37.33 %. 22.66 % had pulmonary tuberculosis, and 77.33 % had extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Among extrapulmonary tuberculosis, lymphadenopathy was the common manifestation. It was present among 40 % of the study population. It includes cervical lymphadenopathy among 24 %, axillary lymph node involvement among 12 %, Sub mandibular lymph node among 2.66 % and supra clavicular in 1.33 %. The other manifestations of extrapulmonary tuberculosis include pleural effusion, the second most common one present among 29.33 % of the study population.
 Conclusion: There is an urgent need for a systematic approach to determining the prevalence and incidence of M. tuberculosis infection among children. This has to become the cornerstone of TB control and of assessing the change in the trend of infection over time in the community until it reaches the required goal