P Y Iroh Tam1, A Menon, K Butler. 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland. irohtam@gmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Immigration has been shown to have an increasingly important effect on the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in developed countries. AIM: To review patterns of TB-related referrals to a paediatric infectious diseases clinic. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of TB-related referrals of children attending the Rainbow Clinic at OLCHC between 2003-2005. RESULTS: Forty-seven children were assessed: 18 referred from public health clinics, 5 from general practitioners, and 24 from paediatricians. Most common reason for referral was history of TB exposure (60%). Eighteen (38%) were female, 29 (62%) were male. Thirteen (28%) had latent TB, and 17 (36%) had active disease. Of children with TB disease, 25 (83%) were Caucasian Irish, and the remainder was African. Twenty-five children completed TB treatment and were discharged, and 2 (7%) were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the problem of TB in children, the majority of whom are native to this country.
BACKGROUND: Immigration has been shown to have an increasingly important effect on the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in developed countries. AIM: To review patterns of TB-related referrals to a paediatric infectious diseases clinic. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of TB-related referrals of children attending the Rainbow Clinic at OLCHC between 2003-2005. RESULTS: Forty-seven children were assessed: 18 referred from public health clinics, 5 from general practitioners, and 24 from paediatricians. Most common reason for referral was history of TB exposure (60%). Eighteen (38%) were female, 29 (62%) were male. Thirteen (28%) had latent TB, and 17 (36%) had active disease. Of children with TB disease, 25 (83%) were Caucasian Irish, and the remainder was African. Twenty-five children completed TB treatment and were discharged, and 2 (7%) were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the problem of TB in children, the majority of whom are native to this country.
Authors: H S Schaaf; N Beyers; R P Gie; E D Nel; N A Smuts; F E Scøtt; P R Donald; P B Fourie Journal: Pediatr Infect Dis J Date: 1995-03 Impact factor: 2.129