BACKGROUND: Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is often underdiagnosed with poor estimate of its true burden. Availability of Xpert MTB/RIF assay enhances diagnostic capacity of pediatric TB. METHODS: A 3-year retrospective review of hospital records was done for all children diagnosed with confirmed and unconfirmed TB. Comparison was made between intrathoracic, single-site extrathoracic and disseminated TB. RESULTS: In total, 274 children had TB with 130 (47.4%) having confirmed TB. Pulmonary (23.4%), lymph node (23%) and central nervous system (12.8%) TB were the three commonest forms. HIV TB coinfection was 2.9%. Mycobacterial culture was positive in 90 (32.8%) and XPert MTB/RIF in 85 patients (31%). Mycobacterial confirmation was obtained in 45 (56.3%) intrathoracic TB, 69 (45.4%) extrathoracic TB and 16 (38.1%) disseminated TB. Correlation between positive Xpert and mycobacterial culture was poor (kappa 0.38). Rifampicin resistance was present in 25 (19.2%) of the 130 microbiologically confirmed TB. CONCLUSION: Extrathoracic TB is common in children. Mycobacterial confirmation in pediatric TB is improved with use of Xpert.
BACKGROUND: Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is often underdiagnosed with poor estimate of its true burden. Availability of Xpert MTB/RIF assay enhances diagnostic capacity of pediatric TB. METHODS: A 3-year retrospective review of hospital records was done for all children diagnosed with confirmed and unconfirmed TB. Comparison was made between intrathoracic, single-site extrathoracic and disseminated TB. RESULTS: In total, 274 children had TB with 130 (47.4%) having confirmed TB. Pulmonary (23.4%), lymph node (23%) and central nervous system (12.8%) TB were the three commonest forms. HIV TB coinfection was 2.9%. Mycobacterial culture was positive in 90 (32.8%) and XPert MTB/RIF in 85 patients (31%). Mycobacterial confirmation was obtained in 45 (56.3%) intrathoracic TB, 69 (45.4%) extrathoracic TB and 16 (38.1%) disseminated TB. Correlation between positive Xpert and mycobacterial culture was poor (kappa 0.38). Rifampicin resistance was present in 25 (19.2%) of the 130 microbiologically confirmed TB. CONCLUSION: Extrathoracic TB is common in children. Mycobacterial confirmation in pediatric TB is improved with use of Xpert.
Authors: Alexander W Kay; Tara Ness; Sabine E Verkuijl; Kerri Viney; Annemieke Brands; Tiziana Masini; Lucia González Fernández; Michael Eisenhut; Anne K Detjen; Anna M Mandalakas; Karen R Steingart; Yemisi Takwoingi Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2022-09-06
Authors: Alexander W Kay; Lucia González Fernández; Yemisi Takwoingi; Michael Eisenhut; Anne K Detjen; Karen R Steingart; Anna M Mandalakas Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-08-27