[INFLUENCE OF RISK FACTORS ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND COURSE OF TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION IN CHILDREN FROM FAMILY CONTACT IN...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Respiratory tuberculosis in children presents unique challenges, often stemming from household transmission.
• Identifying risk factors is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective management of pediatric tuberculosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the primary risk factors impacting the clinical progression of respiratory tuberculosis in children within family infection settings.
• To highlight the importance of comprehensive diagnostic approaches for suspected local tuberculosis in pediatric cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical data from children with tuberculosis originating from family infection foci.
• Evaluation of risk factors including parental tuberculosis status, socioeconomic background, comorbidities, and preventive measures.
• Assessment of diagnostic utility of multi-slice computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography.

Main Results:

• Contact with bacteria-excreting tuberculous parents emerged as a significant risk factor.
• Low family socioeconomic status, childhood comorbidities, and inadequate preventive measures were also identified as key influencers.
• Multi-slice CT and CT angiography demonstrated value in diagnosing suspected local forms of tuberculosis in this cohort.

Conclusions:

• Childhood tuberculosis risk is significantly influenced by family dynamics and socioeconomic factors.
• Prompt and thorough diagnostic evaluation, including advanced imaging like CT, is essential for managing pediatric tuberculosis, especially when local disease is suspected.