Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Childhood Tuberculosis at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu

Abstract

Abstract  Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in most parts of the developing world.

Objective: To determine the epidemiological and clinical features of childhood tuberculosis in Sagamu. Methods: Children aged 15 years and below, who were managed for tuberculosis in a Nigerian tertiary hospital between 2004 and 2009 were retrospectively studied for their clinical and laboratory features.

Results: Of 52 children with TB, 61.5 percent were males, 73 percent were aged <10 years and 94.2 percent belonged to socioeconomic classes IV and V. Most (65.3 percent) cases presented after three months of illness. Fever (73.1 percent), weight loss (69.2 percent) and cough (57.7 percent) were the leading features. Thirty (57.7 percent) had pulmonary disease while disseminated TB and spinal TB were the leading types of extra-pulmonary TB. History of BCG vaccination was elicited in 42.3 percent of cases. The mother was the contact in 71.4 percent of those who had a positive history of contact. HIV sero-positivity was present in 31 percent of the children who were screened for HIV. Only two (3.8 percent) of the children died and these two had TB/HIV co-infection.

Conclusion: Most of the children with tuberculosis were of school age and belonged to the lower socio-economic classes. Pulmonary TB was commoner than extra-pulmonary disease. Improved standard of living and routine HIV screening may be useful control measures.

Keywords: Children; Epidemiology, Tuberculosis; HIV.