Childhood Tuberculosis : Diagnostic Tests

A retrospective study was done on 50 children with tuberculosis diagnosed at Srinagarind hospital from 1980 – 1984. The most common forms of disease were pulmonary tuberculosis (38%), military tuberculosis (26%) and tuberculous meningitis (16%). History of contact was elicited in 63.3%. Forty percent of patients had BCG scar. Abnormalitities in chest x-rays were found in 70% of cases. Laboratory findings included positive smear and culture from sputum and gastric wash in 15.4%, positive tuberculin test in in 47.7%. Patients who gave negative results to tuberculin test, 61.9% were in second and third degree malnutrition. Patients with active severe disease and young patients under 2 years of age yielded few positive results to tuberculin test.