[Diagnostic difficulties in pulmonary tuberculosis in children].
Pulmonary tuberculosis in children remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality around the world.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the difficulty of diagnosis and the epidemiological, clinical, radiological and bacteriological features of pulmonary tuberculosis in children.


METHODS
We analyzed in a descriptive and retrospective study, 254 children with pulmonary tuberculosis hospitalized in Pulmonary Pediatric Department of Iaşi during Jan 2000 - Dec 2005. The surveyed parameters include: the history of TB contact and BCG vaccination, the social condition, the nutrition status, the size of PPD induration, the clinical aspects, the microbiological results, chest X-ray, Quantiferon test.


RESULTS
Of the total number of cases: 65.4% had poor social conditions, 72.8% cases with TB contact, almost all patients with malnutrition I, 53.5% cases with BCG scar = 3 mm, 58.35% children with positive tuberculin skin test, 61.8% cases with acute onset, 24.8% with microbiological confirmation, 63.8% with hilar involvement, 18 cases with positive Quantiferon test.


CONCLUSIONS
1. The early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children is often difficult. 2. Pulmonary tuberculosis in children must be a priority of the public health programs for extending the area of diagnostic methods.
Brînză
Nicoleta
N
Spitalul Clinic de Pneumologie, Iaşi.
Mihăescu
Tr
T
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology