BACTERIOLOGICALLY CONFIRMED PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDHOOD - CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 67  (15) , 588-590
Abstract
Over a 4-yr period 185 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in children were confirmed by culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually from gastric aspirate. The majority of cases occurred in boys (62%) and the younger age groups were more commonly affected, 26% of patients were less than 1 yr old and 65% less than 3 yr of age. At the time of presentation 40% of the 151 children tested had a negative tuberculin test. A chest radiograph was available in 136 cases. The commonest changes seen were lymphadenopathy (63%) and segmental lesions (56%). The latter affected mainly the right lung and in particular the right middle lobe. Cavitating tuberculous disease was present in 19 children, including 5 aged less than 1 yr.