enfermedades infecciosas y microbiologia clinica2019
310
berzosa-snchez2019tuberculosisenfermedades
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a serious public health problem and establishing a definitive diagnosis among children is extremely challenging. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most prevalent form, with children under the age of 2 years being at greatest risk of severe and disseminated forms. The aim of this study was to describe TB among children in Spain in recent years.A retrospective study of paediatric patients diagnosed with TB in two hospitals of the Community of Madrid over a 26-year period (1991-2017). Epidemiological and clinical variables, additional tests and treatments received were analysed.170 children were included. The two most-affected age groups were infancy and adolescence. 42.9% of patients were immigrant children (South-America or Morocco). The main reasons for consultation were TB contact (20.6%) and fever (15.3%). At diagnosis, 61.8% of cases referred an epidemic environment, and 30.6% were asymptomatic. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test was positive in 92.2% of patients and IGRA was positive in 70.6%. Pulmonary TB was identified in 91.8% of children vs. 8.2% with extrapulmonary forms. Gastric juice culture was positive in 36.9% of cases and three strains resistant to isoniazid were isolated. All patients were cured without complications except one who died.Pulmonary TB continues to be the most prevalent form among children and presumptive diagnosis (symptoms consistent with positive Mantoux test or suggestive X-ray) is the most common form of diagnosis. It is important to conduct a contact investigation in order to control the spread of TB.