title: [The risk of tuberculosis infection and disease among children in contact with tuberculous foci].
abstract: Three groups of children aged 0-14 years, in the 4-th district of Bucharest, have been followed up during 1988-89, as follows: a retrospective group--331 contact children in new tb foci registered in 1986-87; a prospective group--213 contact children in newly registered foci in 1988 and a group of 49 contact children in chronic foci. The children have been controlled clinically and X-ray and tuberculin tested on case-finding of the index-case and 3, 6 and 12 months thereafter; those from the retrospective group even after 2-3 years. The non-infected children were BCG vaccinated; in those infected chemoprophylaxis was administrated. The most dangerous infection sources for children were the tb bacilli eliminators on microscopy. The tuberculin conversions were noted during the first 3-6 months after contact; the children from chronic foci can converse even after 1-3 years. The active tuberculosis in children were noted on the initial check-up and were missing during the follow-up period, even in chronic foci. These observations could be accounted to the prophylactic measures applied in contact children, corroborated with intensive treatment of infection sources. Since most of disease cases in children were under 2-3 years of age, we consider necessary to continue the BCG vaccination at birth.
authors.affiliation: Institutul de Pneumoftiziologie Marius Nasta, Bucureşti.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mihăilescu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calciu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lugoji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission
vernacular_title: Riscul de infecţie şi îmbolnăvire prin tuberculoză al copiilor contacţi în focarele tuberculoase.