Clinicoepidemiological profile and experience of tuberculosis in pediatric patients - A community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Childhood tuberculosis is common in developing country like India. The diagnosis in most cases is still based on clinical evidence. Objectives: This study aims at describing clinicoepidemiological profile of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) patients and to document experiences of them. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study done in a city of Gujarat during 2014–2016. Patients registered under revised national TB control program included in this study. Results: The most common presenting symptom is fever followed by cough, swelling, etc. Swelling is not commonly associated with other symptoms and presents as the second most commonly perceived the first symptom. Almost 70% of parents consulted one or more private practitioner before coming to government hospital. The present study finds out statistically significant difference between the family history of TB and the type of TB. It was also noted that more number of boys were first consulted to the private hospital than girls and it’s also statistically significant. Conclusion: Symptoms of pediatric TB not easily correlated with TB by parents of patient as well as many private practitioners. Patients having family history of TB have more chances of pulmonary TB than others.