title: Evaluation of a proposed diagnostic scoring system for pulmonary tuberculosis in Brazilian children.
abstract: In a case-control study to evaluate a systematic scoring system for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in children, cases had gastric lavage cultures positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and recovered after anti-tuberculosis treatment, while controls had negative cultures and recovered with non-anti-tuberculosis treatment. Radiological aspect (OR = 25.39), contact with a tuberculous adult (OR = 10.67) and tuberculin skin test > or = 10 mm (OR = 8.23) were associated with PTB diagnosis. The sensitivity of the score ranged from 58% to 89% and the specificity from 98% to 86%, with cut-offs of respectively > or = 40 or > or = 30. The scoring system may be a useful diagnostic method in areas with a high prevalence of TB.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. clemax@vetor.com.br
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sant'Anna
authors.forename: C T S
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Orfaliais
authors.forename: M de F P
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: March
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Conde
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003948:Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology