Abstract
Background
The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among children remains challenging due to the non-specific clinical symptoms, laboratory features and the difficulty of sampling for microbiological investigations. We aimed to study clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary features of PTB among children.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study including all children aged ≤ 18 years diagnosed with PTB between 1995 and 2016.
Results
We encountered 67 children with PTB, among whom 37 (55.2%) were female. The median age was 15 years [1-18years]. According to residency, 36 patients came from rural area (53.7%). We noted 7 cases (10.4%) of miliary tuberculosis (TB). Three cases of pleural TB (4.5%), one case of lymph node TB (1.5%) and one case of neuromeningeal TB were associated to PTB. Induced sputum or gastric aspirate were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 67.9% of the cases. Serologic tests for human immunodeficiency virus was positive in one case (1.5%). The mean duration of antitubercular therapy was 8 ±2 months. The treatment regimen was based on a quadritherapy for the first 2 months, followed by a bitherapy for the rest of the period. Fixed dose drug combinations were prescribed in 17 cases (25.3%). The disease evolution was favourable in 65 cases (97%). Two patients were dead (3%). There were no relapsing cases.
Conclusion
Prompt diagnosis and treatment of PTB among children improve the prognosis. Screening for PTB among children exposed to adult tuberculosis is crucial in order to prevent the disease.
Disclosures
All Authors: No reported disclosures