Early Diagnosis and Treatment Problems with Perinatal Tuberculosis as a Challenge to Health Care Providers

Abstract

The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in a newborn is often difficult as clinical signs are nonspecific. Neonatal infection is rare but it has a mortality up to 50%. The suspicion of TB in the mother is a powerful tool for diagnosis in the neonate, but physicians need to make mandatory steps to consider maternal TB in countries where the incidence is high. In this report we present two newborns with perinatal TB, the different clinical aspects in their mothers, and the problems that arised during investigation and diagnosis. We emphasize the need for improvement regarding screening of women at risk and sensitization of the medical community about this entity. We need to think in TB.