title: Central nervous system tuberculosis: a disease from Papua New Guinea in North Queensland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe cases of confirmed central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis seen at the major tertiary referral centre of North Queensland over a 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective case series-based study of all cases of proven Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the CNS presenting to a major tertiary referral centre of North Queensland between 2000 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five cases of confirmed CNS tuberculosis were identified over the 10-year period with two deaths. All were from Papua New Guinea with a mean age of 7 years. Imaging and early microbiological diagnosis was critical in making the diagnosis. HIV infection was not a contributing factor. Multidrug resistance was inferred or confirmed in two cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CNS tuberculosis is a disease being increasingly seen in North Queensland among children from Papua New Guinea. Anticipation of multidrug resistance is important in the immediate management of suspected cases.
authors.affiliation: The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. p.ting@uqconnect.edu.au
authors.forename: Pascallina L C
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Norton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D011793:Queensland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020306:Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents