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Published on: September 5, 2017

Tuberculosis in children, Northwest Ethiopia

Solomon Amsalu1, Zewdu Hurrisa, Shamil Nuri

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Gondar University, P.O. Box 196, Gondar.

Ethiopian Medical Journal
|July 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Tuberculosis remains a significant cause of childhood hospitalizations and deaths globally. Early identification of transmission sources and prompt treatment are crucial for controlling this infectious disease in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a leading global cause of infectious death.
  • Annually, an estimated 1.3 million childhood TB cases and 450,000 deaths occur worldwide.
  • This study focuses on pediatric tuberculosis cases in Ethiopia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the clinical characteristics, affected organs, and outcomes of pediatric tuberculosis patients.
  • To identify risk factors and provide insights for improved tuberculosis prevention and control strategies in children.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study was conducted on 212 children diagnosed with tuberculosis.
  • Data were collected from admissions at Gondar University Hospital over a five-year period.

Main Results:

  • The median age of affected children was 5 years, with most from rural areas.
  • Common symptoms included fever (93%), weight loss (91%), anorexia (90%), and cough (89%).
  • Pulmonary TB was most common (91%), followed by lymph node (43%) and liver (26%) involvement. Infants showed a high case fatality rate (OR = 8.48).

Conclusions:

  • Tuberculosis continues to be a major cause of pediatric hospital admission and mortality.
  • Recommendations include prompt identification of transmission sources, family screening, and early treatment initiation.
  • Effective interventions are vital for tuberculosis prevention and control in pediatric populations.
Abstract

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