title: Childhood tuberculosis in Bhutan: profile and treatment outcomes.
abstract: METHODS
  All hospitals and health centres under the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP) in Bhutan.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the number and proportion of childhood tuberculosis (TB) cases registered under the NTCP in 2010, their demographic and clinical characteristics and any associations with treatment outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study involving a review of TB treatment cards and registers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1332 TB cases registered, 187 (14%) were children aged <15 years, 75 (40%) were aged <5 years, and 180 (96%) were new cases; nearly half were extra-pulmonary TB, with lymphadenitis being the most common form. The overall treatment success rate was 93%, and none of the demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with treatment outcomes. A few recording deficiencies were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TB in children is well recognised in Bhutan, and their treatment outcomes were excellent.
authors.affiliation: National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dendup
authors.affiliation: Communicable Diseases Division, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dorji
authors.affiliation: Centre for Operational Research, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Edgnton
authors.affiliation: The Union, South-East Asia Office, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: A M V
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wangchuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dophu
authors.affiliation: Health Management Information System, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jamtsho
authors.affiliation: National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rinzin
keywords: Bhutan; childhood; treatment outcome; tuberculosis