Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem with WHO South-East Asia Region accounting for about 45% of total cases. Tuberculosis is the ninth leading cause of death worldwide and is the leading infectious cause, ranking above HIV/AIDS. In 2016, about 1.3 million HIV negative people died due to tuberculosis [1]. However, Congenital Tuberculosis (CTB) is extremely rare condition with only less than 400 cases being reported thus far [2,3]. As the diagnosis and thus the treatment are often delayed, it has a mortality rate of almost 50% and about 22% in even those who receive treatment [4].
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem with WHO South-East Asia Region accounting for about 45% of total cases
Foetal liver and lungs are primarily affected whereas ingestion or aspiration of infected amniotic fluid by babies either in utero, or during the delivery primarily affects foetal lungs and gut [2,10]
Congenital tuberculosis should be differentiated with perinatally acquired tuberculosis in which child is infected after delivery by a contagious source
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem with WHO South-East Asia Region accounting for about 45% of total cases. As clinical features of congenital tuberculosis are non-specific and often similar to other non-tubercular infections, it is extremely difficult to diagnoses and requires high index of suspicion. Singh et al [13] reported laboratory and clinical findings that may suggest congenital TB, which include a newborn from a TB endemic area with unresponsive worsening pneumonia, a mother with TB and a baby with nonspecific symptoms and the presence of hepatosplenomegaly and fever [14,15]. Congenital TB is difficult to diagnose and requires detailed antenatal history especially about maternal infection and needs high index of suspicion. The mothers of these children often appear healthy [12]. Copyright © All rights are reserved by Nigam P Narain
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