title: Tuberculous spondylitis and intermittent chemotherapy in childhood.
abstract: The general characteristics and treatment of childhood tuberculous spondylitis are reviewed. Most of the patients (79 per cent) were under 5 years old with girls being in greater number. Twenty-six patients used classical antituberculous chemotherapy and five were given intermittent chemotherapy. There was no significant difference in the mean period of inactivation of the disease (2.8 v. 2.9 months) or in post-treatment angle of kyphosis (33 degrees v. 37.6 degrees) between the classical and intermittent chemotherapy groups. In addition to drug therapy, plaster jacket and immobilization were adequate in four children whereas 27 underwent surgery with only two requiring radical operations. In children with tuberculous spondylitis, intermittent drug treatment is a good alternative due to effectiveness and convenience of use and radical surgery should be reserved for selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Turkish Health and Therapy Foundation, P.K. 5 Emek, Ankara.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Toppare
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Göcmen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kiper
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gögüs
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D016659:Psoas Abscess / Q000503:physiopathology; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D007538:Isoniazid; D013307:Streptomycin