Profile of Tuberculosis in Paediatric patients

Dr Sandesh Ks,Dr Praveenkumar Sindhur,Dr Pooja Shah,Dr Anish Singhal

doi:10.17511/ijpr.2017.i01.12

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is very important cause of infection related deaths worldwide and has been declared by WHO as a global health emergency. Around half million children fall ill with TB each year. Due to non-specific signs and symptoms TB in children may be overlooked. Aims and objectives: 1) To study the occurrence of TB in pediatric patients at tertiary care hospital KVG Medical College, Sullia, Karnataka. 2) To study the occurrence of TB in patients with and without BCG scar. 3) To study the occurrence of smear positive cases in pediatric age group. 4) To study the type of TB in pediatric patients. Material and methods: Specimens like sputum, bronchial lavage, lymph node aspirate, gastric lavage, CSF were collected depending on the site of disease. Specimens were stained by ZN staining method. Culture was done on LJ media. Tuberculin test was also done. Chest X rays of the patients were done presenting with pulmonary signs and symptoms. Result: In our study, 102 (0.98%) were positive. Age group of 5-9 years was the most commonly affected. Males (57.84%) were more affected than females (42.16%). BCG scar was found only in 20.59% cases. Smear positivity was seen in 22.89% cases. Extrapulmonary manifestations were more compared to pulmonary manifestations. Conclusion: As smear examination is negative in most of the patients, culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is important. This age group present with non-specific signs and symptoms and hence tuberculosis should always be considered as one of the differential diagnosis.

Highlights

Patients aged2 weeks and/or no weight gain or loss (History of unexplained weight loss or no weight gain in past 3 months; loss of weight defined as loss of more than 5% body weight as compared to highest weight recorded in last 3 months) and/or history of contact with infected tuberculosis case were included in the study
A total 10358 cases were suspected of Tuberculosis and amongst them 102 were positive
This age group present with non specific signs and symptoms and tuberculosis should always be considered as one of the differential diagnosis

Summary

Introduction

It accounts for 20% of the newly diagnosed 8.6 million TB cases annually [1]. Pediatric tuberculosis consists of total 8-20% deaths [3,4]. Children can’t cough out sputum properly and so other samples like gastric lavage and broncho-alveolar lavage has to be collected which is other major problem. In children

Methodology

Results

Discussion

Conclusion