Abstract

The data of pediatric tuberculosis (primary progresive TB) patients who had been admitted in Nazilli Tuberculosis Dispensary between 1983 and 1999 were evaluated retrospectively. Twenty-three of patients (56%) were male. Mean age was 6 ± 4 years. The number of patiens under 5 years was 18 (44%). The distribution of cases was as follows: 25 pulmonary tuberculosis, 16 tuberculous pleurisy, 18 intrathoracic TB lympadenitis, 2 tuberculous menengitis, 1 miliary TB, 2 extrathoracic TB lympadenitis, 1 tuberculous peritonitis. Seventeen of patients (42%) had given a history of close contact with a newly identified TB case. Scar for BCG vaccination was detected in 25 patients (61%). Tuberculin skin test reactivity was present in 61%. Consolidation (23), hilar lympadenomegaly (20) and pleurisy (16) were the most common radiographic findings. The most common complaints were cough (80%), night sweats (61%), fever (27%) and anorexia (20%) Sputum for acid-fast bacilli staining couldn’t be obtained in 88% of patients. The initial treatment protocols were HRS in 37%. Treatment duration was 9 months in 27% and 6 months in 19%. The compliance rate for regular treatment was 80%. The criteria for diagnosing tuberculosis in children include history of close contact with a TB patient, tuberculin skin test reactivity, AFB stain positivity for the appropriate body fluid, clinical and radiological findings associated with TB persisting after nonspecific therapy. The aim of this study was to emphasize the importance of screening contacts for primary progresive TB and the most likely clinical and radiolagical features observed in primer progresive TB cases.