Abstract
Background: The incidence of childhood DSTB as well as DRTB is on rise. Extra-pulmonary TB equally contributes to pulmonary TB with highest mortality of neurological TB in children. Despite the very high disease burden, there are very few studies on tuberculosis among Paediatric population. In this case series we wish to discuss the difficulties in diagnosis of Paediatric TB along with clinical presentation, microbiological, radiological reports, treatment given and outcome.
Clinical Description: Total 24 Paediatric patients (Age range 5months to 12 years) with diagnosis of tuberculosis (from March 2024 to December2024) were included in this case series. Patients were categorised as per age, sex, nutritional status, pulmonary/extra-pulmonary TB and DSTB/DRTB (as per The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme guidelines). Pulmonary Tuberculosis was most common form followed by neurological TB. Malnutrition was contributory factor in 58.3% cases.
Management & Outcome: Treatment was given as per NTEP guidelines. The outcome was recorded as discharge, death and lost to follow up.
Microbiological confirmation was reported to be more than 30%.The mortality was 12.5% and was highest in CNS TB (28.5%). The rate of MDR TB was 8.3 %.
Conclusion: Despite increasing incidence of childhood TB, poor microbiological yield of tubercular bacilli in children poses difficulty and delays the diagnosis. Increasing awareness about timely screening and evaluation of all children with suspected TB infection with due emphasis on microbiological evidence/ supportive radiological investigations may help in bridging this gap and can improve the outcome. Multidisciplinary team approach is need of the hour.
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