The bacteriologic yield in children with intrathoracic tuberculosis.
This report documents the bacteriologic yield in children who received treatment for intrathoracic tuberculosis in an area where it is highly endemic. A total of 307 children were included in the study, and bacteriologic confirmation was achieved in 122 (62.2%) of 196 children from whom specimens were collected. The lowest bacteriologic yield was recorded for the 69 children with uncomplicated lymph node disease (24 [34.8%] had bacteriologic confirmation). The high overall bacteriologic yield indicates the need to reassess the value of bacteriology-based approaches to diagnosis of intrathoracic tuberculosis in children, particularly in areas of endemicity where they frequently present with advanced disease.
Marais
B J
BJ
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Tygerberg Children's Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. bjmarais@sun.ac.za
Hesseling
A C
AC
Gie
R P
RP
Schaaf
H S
HS
Enarson
D A
DA
Beyers
N
N
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology; D013019:South Africa; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000382:microbiology*