Tuberculosis treatment default among Brazilian children
V L da Silva Oliveira1, A J L A da Cunha, R Alves
1Hospital Municipal Jesus, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. verasoll@terra.com.br
Objectives:
To study the prevalence and time of tuberculosis (TB) treatment default among children and to compare defaulters with those who completed treatment.
Methods:
Retrospective cohort study at the Hospital Municipal Jesus, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, among TB patients aged <15 years followed from 1998 to 2002. The group that completed treatment was compared with those that defaulted.
Results:
The records of 248 patients were studied. The default rate was 24.2% and was more frequent in the first 2 months of treatment (43.3%) and among those aged <1 year (42.4%). The following variables were associated with default: previous default (relative risk [RR] 1.99, 95%CI 1.12-3.54, P = 0.035), father not living with the child (RR 1.85, 95%CI 1.06-3.21, P = 0.030) and father using illicit drugs (RR 2.93, 95%CI 1.44-5.97, P = 0.002).
Conclusions:
Health professionals responsible for treating children with TB should pay special attention to children aged <1 year, those with a history of previous default, and those whose father is absent or an illicit drug user.
Related Concept Videos
Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...
Tuberculosis
Pulmonary Tuberculosis III
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
Pulmonary Tuberculosis II
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...

