A review of tuberculosis-related referrals among children in Ireland.
BACKGROUND
Immigration has been shown to have an increasingly important effect on the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in developed countries.


OBJECTIVE
To review patterns of TB-related referrals to a paediatric infectious diseases clinic.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of TB-related referrals of children attending the Rainbow Clinic at OLCHC between 2003-2005.


RESULTS
Forty-seven children were assessed: 18 referred from public health clinics, 5 from general practitioners, and 24 from paediatricians. Most common reason for referral was history of TB exposure (60%). Eighteen (38%) were female, 29 (62%) were male. Thirteen (28%) had latent TB, and 17 (36%) had active disease. Of children with TB disease, 25 (83%) were Caucasian Irish, and the remainder was African. Twenty-five children completed TB treatment and were discharged, and 2 (7%) were lost to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study highlights the problem of TB in children, the majority of whom are native to this country.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland. irohtam@gmail.com
P Y
PY
Iroh Tam
A
A
Menon
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K
Butler
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010375:Pedigree; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011634:Public Health; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic