Clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of infants with tuberculosis in Cape Town, South Africa
Date
2020-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Limited data are available regarding the presentation, clinical course and outcome of infants (<12 months of age) treated for drug-susceptible tuberculosis.
Methods: Infants with tuberculosis admitted at Tygerberg, Khayelitsha District and Brooklyn Chest Hospitals (March 2014-March 2015) were prospectively enrolled with follow-up evaluations at 3- and 6-months post-treatment initiation.
Results: Among 39 infants diagnosed with tuberculosis, 21 (54%) had known contact with an adult tuberculosis source case. The median age of infants at diagnosis was 6 months (IQR 3-7) and median weight 5.2 kg (IQR 3.2–10.2). Twenty-two of 39 (56%) were exposed to HIV of whom 5 were HIV infected. Growth faltering (25; 68%) and persistent cough (13; 33%) were frequent presenting symptoms. Most infants were diagnosed with intrathoracic tuberculosis (37/39; 95%) while 5% had disseminated tuberculosis and (14/39; 36%) had culture-confirmed tuberculosis. Alveolar opacification (22; 56%), mediastinal lymphadenopathy (13; 33%) and large airway obstruction (8; 20%) were common chest radiography findings. Tuberculosis treatment outcomes were favourable in 33/39 (85%) infants, but with additional intervention 37 (95%) completed treatment.
Conclusions: Intrathoracic tuberculosis was the predominant disease type and one-third of the cohort had culture-confirmed tuberculosis. More than half on the infants were born to a mother with HIV. An adult tuberculosis source case was identifiable in half of the cases. Additional interventions improved favourable treatment outcomes.
"Geen opsomming beskikbaar"
"Geen opsomming beskikbaar"
Description
Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
Keywords
Tuberculosis in children, Tuberculin test, Tuberculosis source case, Paediatric tuberculosis, UCTD