[Adverse effects in children receiving short-term chemotherapy for intrathoracic tuberculosis]

The incidence and pattern of adverse effects were analyzed in children receiving short-term chemotherapy for intrathoracic tuberculosis in relation to the course of a tuberculous process (complicated and uncomplicated). During chemotherapy, side effects of antituberculous agents were noted in 82 children of 255 examinees. The incidence of side effects was affected by concurrent diseases detected in 52.4% of children showing a poor tolerance, receiving antituberculosis therapy for up to 6 months. Adverse effects were found in 18.2% of children, and in 55.3% with over 12-month chemotherapy. Short-term chemotherapy in children with the uncomplicated course of tuberculosis significantly reduced the incidence of adverse responses as compared to long-term chemotherapy (20 versus 36%) by reducing allergic reactions by 3 times (6.7 versus 19.7%). In children with complicated tuberculosis, the use of 4 drugs in the intensive phase of chemotherapy failed to increase the incidence of side effects (35.5 versus 40.8%). In most children, adverse reactions are reversible and a complete intolerance of antituberculous agents (streptomycin and rifampicin) was observed only in 4% of cases.