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[Analysis of children with tuberculosis in recent 10 years]
M Mori1, T Kuriyama, Y Takahashi
1Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University School of Medicine.
Insights
Early diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis is possible. High serum IgM levels, family history, positive tuberculin tests, and chest X-ray findings aid in prompt treatment decisions for children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Diagnostics
Abstract:
To make an early diagnosis and decision for prompt treatment of the children with tuberculosis, we analyzed 61 cases in both inpatients and outpatients for the clinical and laboratory characteristics. One fourth of the 61 cases were below 1-year-old, and 43 cases (70.5%) had a positive family history. The tuberculin test revealed that all of the 61 cases were positive, and 18 of them had a strongly positive reaction (> or = 30 mm). Although the serum levels of inflammatory markers including white blood cells counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP value increased only slightly in most cases, serum IgM levels in 59.0% of the children with tuberculosis were twice to three times higher than those in normal average levels. Especially in 96.2% of the children hospitalized for the need of isolation the IgM levels were demonstrated high. Thus, in children with tuberculosis the detection of serum IgM levels as well as family history, tuberculin reaction, and chest X-ray findings may be helpful for the early diagnosis and prompt decision of hospitalization.