Clinical features of child tuberculosis in the first three years of life

In the period between 1990 and 1997 the authors treated 108 children with primary pulmonary tuberculosis.This article describes these cases.
Seventy three (68%) of these children were aged from 1 to 3 years and thirty five (32%) were younger than one year. There were fifty eight (54%) males and fifty (46%) females. One hundred and two (94%) were BCG-vaccinated. Family contact with a BK positive patient (father and mother) was established in sixty-six cases (61%). A positive PPD 3 unit test (above 15 mm) was detected in fifty two(48%) cases.
Normal radiographic findings were found in 13% of cases, adenopathy and atelectasis were detected in 39% of cases, infiltration in 40% of cases, miliary tuberculosis in 4% of cases and tuberculous pleurisy was found in 4% of cases. A diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis was established in only three patients.
Positive culture of gastrolavate was found in twenty one (19%) cases.
Bronchoscopy was performed on eighty patients. Granuloma were found in six cases. After six to twelve months therapy the granuloma disappeared in four cases but two patients recovered from the granuloma after eighteen months therapy.
One child died from the consequences of tuberculous meningitis and other child died of miliary tuberculosis in period of seven years. The remaining 106 patients (98%) recovered successfully.