Tuberculosis in BCG-immunized Children and Adolescents from Elite Social Class Families

Abstract

Nine cases of tuberculosis in children and adolescents from four elite social class families in Calabar are presented. In two families, two domestic-helps who shared the same sleeping rooms with the patients constituted the sources of infection. In the third and fourth families, HIV infection in the parents and siblings, was the predisposing factor. It is recommended that domestic-helps should be medically examined and certified fit before close contact with children is allowed. A his- tory of recent employment of, as well as medical screening of such domestic-helps, should be part of tuberculosis management in children. Furthermore, HIV infection should be suspected when childhood tuberculosis presents in an elite social class family