[Current status of tuberculosis in children and adolescents of East Germany]

The morbidity from juvenile tuberculosis in the GDR amounts presently to 0.6 per 100.000 in the age group 0 to 15 years. The GDR's centre for treating children affected by tuberculosis is the above hospital for lung diseases in the town of Harzgerode. Between 1980 and 1983 a total of 89 children (48 boys and 41 girls) with various forms of tuberculosis have been treated there. The anamnesis of the children with lung tuberculosis was largely unspecific, only 6 from 29 had pneumonia or pneumonia was suspected respectively. All patients with abdominal tuberculosis had pains in the peritoneal cavity, whereas 26 from 31 children with cervico-glandular tuberculosis developed local lymphatic nodes. The family anamnesis showed primary tuberculous infections, lung tuberculosis and other forms of tuberculosis in the respiratory system among the patient's parents, grandparents and other relatives. The cases were initially registered mainly with the special outpatients' departments for lung diseases and tuberculosis or with other surgically orientated departments. Whilst tuberculin tests with 2 TE on children with lung tuberculosis gave a clear diagnosis, the same tests proved to be negative in nearly all cases with histologically confirmed lymphatic tuberculosis. Tuberculous bacteria could be detected in only 15 from 29 cases of lung tuberculosis. A strict initial therapy with three antituberculous drugs, usually Streptomycin, INH and Ethambutol, is decisive for the successful treatment. In the following intermittent period Streptomycin and INH are preferred. The total duration of chemotherapy of all forms of juvenile tuberculosis is at present 9 months.