Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in children.
METHODS
The clinical and epidemiological features of 102 children with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, diagnosed between 1982 and 1998 at P & A Kyriakou Children's Hospital were reviewed.


RESULTS
During the past decade, a 50% increase of admissions for extra-pulmonary tuberculosis was observed. The source of infection was disclosed in 48 patients. Diagnoses included superficial lymphadenitis (n = 48), pleural effusion (n = 27), meningitis (n = 16), skeletal tuberculosis (n = 5), miliary tuberculosis (n = 3), abdominal tuberculosis (n = 2), and pericarditis (n = 1). Miliary tuberculosis developed in infants, lymphadenitis and meningitis in preschool children, and pleural effusion and skeletal tuberculosis in older children. None of the patients with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis died; however, six patients with meningitis developed permanent neurological deficits. In these patients, antituberculous treatment was introduced at a median of six days following admission as compared with one day in patients with no complications. Poverty, immigration, and limited access to medical services were common among patients with meningitis.
Maltezou
H C
HC
University of Athens Second Department of Pediatrics, P & A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, 11527, Greece.
Spyridis
P
P
Kafetzis
D A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000453:epidemiology; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000453:epidemiology; D014391:Tuberculosis, Miliary / Q000453:epidemiology; D014394:Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / Q000453:epidemiology; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000453:epidemiology