Clinical and radiological analysis of children and adolescents with tuberculosis in Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

We reviewed the clinical and radiological characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) in children and adolescents at the Hospital Especializado Octávio Mangabeira, (HEOM) in Salvador, Bahia. This study included 275 TB patients aged 1 to 15 years seen between January 1990 and November 2001. Standardized forms were filled out on the basis of a review of patient records and x-rays. Through a retrospective and descriptive analysis, it was found that 51.6% were male, 35.3% were aged 1 to 5 years, 28% were aged 6 to 10 and 36.7% were aged 11 to 15. Among all patients, 79.6% lived in the city of Salvador. A history of contact with TB was found in 63.9%, most frequently among children under 5 years old; 77.2% were vaccinated with Bacillus CalmetteGuerin (BCG). The most frequently observed symptoms were coughing (76%), fever (73.1%) weight loss (53.1%), and 4.7% were asymptomatic. Pulmonary TB was most frequent (57.8%) and extra-pulmonary TB occurred in 24.4%, with a predominance of hilar adenopathy. Both forms occurred simultaneously in 17.8%. In 53.1% of the cases the diagnosis was not determined by bacteriology or pathological anatomy; in these cases diagnosis was reached through clinical and radiological criteria, contact history, a tuberculin test ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥ ≥10mm and a positive response to tuberculostatic drugs.

Clinical Profile of Pediatric Tuberculosis and MGIT sensitivity: A Prospective Study from a Tertiary care Institute

“…Our results are consistent with the various studies described in literature [8,9,11,13,15] In our study CNS tuberculosis accounted for 11.8% cases, this was comparable with study of Pontual et al [16] where 16.67% cases were had isolated CNS tuberculosis. Lymphadenopathy was seen in 23.5% and isolated lymphadenopathy was seen in 1.96% cases.…”

“…Primary complex was most common finding on X ray accounting for 36(50.7%) cases and 15(21.1%) cases showed pleural effusion. Similar to study by Franco et al [8 ] observed primary complex in 44.3% cases. History of BCG vaccination was positive in 87.42% cases and 13.72% of those vaccinated did not have a BCG mark on examination.…”

“…This was comparable to study done by Garg P, which showed 16.7% cases of tubercular lymphadenopathy 13 . Franco et al [8] showed 21.5% cases of tubercular lymphadenopathy. Primary complex was most common finding on X ray accounting for 36(50.7%) cases and 15(21.1%) cases showed pleural effusion.…”

“…Sex wise distribution of cases showed a slight male preponderance (50.9%), which is similar to study by Franco Et al in Brazil which showed a male preponderance of 51.6%. [8] Sivanandan S [9] and Xi-Rong Wu et al [10] also observed a male preponderance of 63% and 58% respectively. Majority of cases in our study belonged to age group 11-14 years of age which is in accordance to study by Kakarani with 54% cases in age group 6-12 years.…”

“…Similar observations were reported in a study from north India by Garg P with fever and anorexia being commonest symptoms followed by weight loss and cough. [13] In a study by Franco et al [8] fever was docum- [12,13,14] Study by Franco et al [8] reported a recent contact in age group 1-5 years.…”