The DOTS strategy for treatment of paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis in South Delhi, India.
METHODS
Paediatric Pulmonology Department, TB Institute, New Delhi, India.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcome of the DOTS strategy for paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 1098 children.


RESULTS
The mean age of the children included in the study was 11.2 years, with more females (61.7%) than males (38.3%). In the 0-5, 6-10 and 11-14 year age groups, the percentage of patients was respectively 18.3%, 26.6% and 55.1%. Patients were registered as new cases (87.7%), relapses (1.9%), failures (1.0%), defaulters (5.0%), transferred in (0.9%) and others (3.5%). Of the total number of cases, 414 were smear-positive and 404 smear-negative, while sputum status was not known for 280 patients. Sputum positivity increased with age. Category I, II and III regimens were started by respectively 50.6%, 10.5% and 38.9% patients. The cure rate was 92.4% (302/327) for new and 92% (80/87) for retreatment cases (chi(2)(1) = 0.02, P = 0.901), but the treatment completion rate was significantly higher for new cases (97%, 636/656) than retreatment cases (53.6%, 15/28) (chi(2)(1) = 100.8, P < 0.001). The overall success rate was 95.4% and 82.6% for new and retreatment cases, respectively (chi(2)(1) = 30.35, P < 0.001). Overall, the rates for default, failure and death in the study were respectively 3%, 1.9% and 1%.


CONCLUSIONS
DOTS appears to be a highly efficacious treatment strategy.
Sharma
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S
Department of Paediatric Pulmonology, Lala Ram Sarup (LRS) Institute of Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi, India. sangeetasharma2000@gmail.com
Sarin
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Khalid
U K
UK
Singla
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N
Sharma
P P
PP
Behera
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D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality
D000995:Antitubercular Agents