Congenital and perinatal tuberculosis: discussion of difficult issues in diagnosis and management

Tuberculosis (TB) has become more prevalent in women of childbearing age and, as well, more frequent in their children. This has occurred for a number of reasons, including: (1) women and children who have immigrated to this country from areas where TB is endemic, such as Mexico and Southeast Asia; (2) the development of multidrug-resistant organisms; (3) the increase seen in patients who live in congregate areas who are at higher risk for acquisition of TB; (4) more difficult access to adequate medical care; and (5) increases in adults and children who have become infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The focus of this review is on congenital and perinatally acquired TB including discussion of epidemiology, the stages of TB, the effects of TB infection and disease during pregnancy on the fetus and mother, congenital and perinatal TB, the potential role of the use of BCG vaccine in infants, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant TB on therapy of the pregnant mother and her fetus and the mother and her infant after delivery.