OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological particularities of pulmonary tuberculosis depending on the age of the child. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of all children with pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed between 1985 to 1996 were reviewed. They were divided into three age groups according to age: < 3 years, 3-5 year and 6-15 years. RESULTS: Of the 173 children identified, 51.4% were male. Forty percent were < 3 years if age, 33.1% between 3 and 5 years and 26.1% between 6 and 15 years old. The frequency of diagnosis derived from a case contact investigation was higher in children < 3 years of age (38.6%) and children aged 3-5 years (52.6%) than in children between 6-15 years old (21.7%, p < 0.05 for both). In the other cases, diagnosis was the result of investigation of an ill child, investigation of a child after pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed in a sibling and routine tuberculin skin test reactivity. An adult source of tuberculosis was identified in 68.6% of the children < 3 years old, 59.6% of children aged 3-5, but only in 37% of the children aged 6-15 years (p < 0.05 for both). The case contact was a family member in 92.7% of the children < 6 years of age and in 66.7% of children aged 6-15 years (p < 0.01). Culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was positive in 47.1% of children < 3 years old and 43.9% of children aged 6-15 years, but only in 27.5% of children aged 3.5 years (p < 0.05). Pulmonary parenchymal disease was more frequently found in children < 3 years (67.5%) than in children aged 6-15 years (39.4%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Investigation of an adult source is essential when a child is diagnosed of pulmonary tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis is more intense and the source of adult contact is more frequently found in children < 3 years old.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological particularities of pulmonary tuberculosis depending on the age of the child. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of all children with pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed between 1985 to 1996 were reviewed. They were divided into three age groups according to age: < 3 years, 3-5 year and 6-15 years. RESULTS: Of the 173 children identified, 51.4% were male. Forty percent were < 3 years if age, 33.1% between 3 and 5 years and 26.1% between 6 and 15 years old. The frequency of diagnosis derived from a case contact investigation was higher in children < 3 years of age (38.6%) and children aged 3-5 years (52.6%) than in children between 6-15 years old (21.7%, p < 0.05 for both). In the other cases, diagnosis was the result of investigation of an ill child, investigation of a child after pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed in a sibling and routine tuberculin skin test reactivity. An adult source of tuberculosis was identified in 68.6% of the children < 3 years old, 59.6% of children aged 3-5, but only in 37% of the children aged 6-15 years (p < 0.05 for both). The case contact was a family member in 92.7% of the children < 6 years of age and in 66.7% of children aged 6-15 years (p < 0.01). Culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was positive in 47.1% of children < 3 years old and 43.9% of children aged 6-15 years, but only in 27.5% of children aged 3.5 years (p < 0.05). Pulmonary parenchymal disease was more frequently found in children < 3 years (67.5%) than in children aged 6-15 years (39.4%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Investigation of an adult source is essential when a child is diagnosed of pulmonary tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis is more intense and the source of adult contact is more frequently found in children < 3 years old.