Short-Course Chemotherapy for Tuberculosis in Children

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Abstract
Since 1977, 50 children with tuberculosis were treated with rifampin, 10-20 mg/kg, and isoniazid, 10-20 mg/kg daily for 1 mo. followed by 10-20 mg/kg of rifampin and 20-40 mg/kg of isoniazid twice a week for another 8 mo. Ages ranged from 4 mo.-15 yr with a median age of 3 yr. A presumptive diagnosis of tuberculosis was made on the basis of >EQ 10 mm of induration to 5 tuberculin units of purified protein derivative and a chest film or other findings compatible with tuberculosis. Three children had extrapulmonary disease (2 had cervical adenitis, 1 had tuberculosis arthritis). Of the 47 children with pulmonary disease, 32 were asymptomatic. The results were excellent. Symptoms cleared in 1-2 mo. Most pulmonary infiltrates had cleared by 10 mo., hilar adenopathy rarely cleared in < 2 yr. Drug toxicity occurred in only 1 patient (vomiting of rifampin). This treatment appears to be safe, effective, inexpensive, short and simple enough to ensure cooperation or to allow personnel to administer drugs directly to children from socially disorganized families.