Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Children: Two Years Study

Abstract- Tuberculosis (TB) is an important health problem in developing countries, with varying clinical presentations depending on the organs/systems involved. To study the spectrum of clinical and paraclinical aspects of extra pulmonary TB in children suffering from pulmonary TB. This study has been carried out on 65 children with tuberculosis, admitted in TB wards of National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (N.R.I.T.L.D) during 2004-2006. All patients were investigated according to specific diagnostic criteria including; history of contact with TB patient, clinical manifestations, radiological findings, tuberculin test and bacteriologic or pathologic results and after confirmation, treatment was administered. Out of 65 cases, 14 had different types of extra pulmonary tuberculosis, and data concerning following factors were studied: age, gender, race, site of involvement, bacteriology, pathology, ADA (ascitic fluid), PCR (tissue specimens), history of close contact, HIV tests (ELISA), tuberculin test, radiological findings, and immunological studies (in disseminated TB). Of 14 cases, 8 were girls and 6 were boys with mean age of 8.75±4.2. Nine patients were Iranian and 5 were Afghan. History of close contact was detected in 4 cases. Type of involvement was: 5 cervical adenitis, 3 osteoaticular disease, 2 peritonitis and 2 disseminated form of tuberculosis, one pericarditis, one renal tuberculosis. Radiological findings showed 4 pulmonary disease and 3 osteoarticular involvement. Tuberculin skin tests greater than 15 mm observed in 5 cases, 9 patients had 0-