THE PATTERN OF
TUBERCULOSIS IN EGYPTIAN CHILDREN 12 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Samuel S, El-Saiedi S,
and Imam T
Children Hospital Cairo
University Egypt
Objective: A retrospective
analysis of the records of patients attending the pediatric chest clinic of
Cairo University Children¡¯s Hospital every other year for 12 years from
1986 to 1998.
Methods: A total of 2108 records
of tuberculous patients were reviewed. Different risk factors were studied
including age, sex, socioeconomic status, history of contact to tuberculous
patient, presence of BCG scar & +ve tuberculin testing. All
laboratories, bacteriological, radiological & pathological
investigations were recorded.
Results: The percentage of
infants affected increased over the study period. Preschool children
affection decreased while school aged tuberculous patients increased. Most
of the patients were from urban areas & were members of big families
living in small houses. In 1986, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) was more
prevalent (64%) than extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) (36%). There was a
gradual decline in PTB in 1992 followed by a sharp increase in 1994
succeeded by falling in 1998.
Conclusion: The pattern of childhood
TB has changed from PTB to EPTB with better coverage of BCG vaccine.