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Clinical scoring system for paediatric tuberculosis in HIV-infected and non-infected children in Rio de Janeiro

C Pedrozo1, C Sant'Anna, M de Fátima March

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
|March 12, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A scoring system effectively diagnoses tuberculosis (TB) in children, including those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This diagnostic tool proved useful across various patient groups, aiding in accurate TB identification.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Diagnostic Medicine

Background:

  • The existing tuberculosis (TB) scoring system in Brazil was validated for HIV-negative children.
  • Accurate TB diagnosis in HIV-positive children presents unique challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of the Brazilian TB scoring system for diagnosing pulmonary TB in HIV-positive children.
  • To compare diagnostic scores between HIV-positive children with TB and other respiratory conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Children were categorized into four groups: tuberculous infection, other pulmonary diseases, pulmonary TB, and pulmonary TB with HIV co-infection.
  • The established TB scoring system was applied to all participants.

Main Results:

  • Children with pulmonary TB (Group 3a) had significantly higher scores than those with tuberculous infection (Group 1) or other pulmonary diseases (Group 2).
  • HIV-positive children with pulmonary TB (Group 3b) showed lower scores than HIV-negative children with TB (Group 3a), but scores remained above the diagnostic threshold (>30 points).
  • The scoring system demonstrated statistical significance (P = 0.0005) in differentiating TB cases.

Conclusions:

  • The Brazilian TB scoring system is a valuable tool for diagnosing pulmonary TB in both HIV-negative and HIV-positive children.
  • The system's effectiveness supports its use in diverse pediatric populations, including immunocompromised individuals.

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