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Chest radiograph findings in children with tuberculous meningitis
METHODS: We describe the radiological features suggestive of intrathoracic TB in children diagnosed with TBM during a prospective evaluation of TBM suspects seen at Tygerberg Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
RESULTS: Of 84 children treated for TBM, 31 (37%) had ‘definite' TBM, 45 (55%) ‘probable' TBM and 8 (9%) ‘possible' TBM. In total, 37 (44%) TBM patients had CXR findings suggestive of TB, 9 (11%) with disseminated (miliary) TB. Only 1 in 4.39 children aged 3 years with TBM had suggestive CXR findings. The presence of complicated intrathoracic lymph node disease was significantly higher in children aged 3 years (OR 21.69, 95%CI 2.73–172.67, P < 0.01). Among 6 human immunodeficiency virus infected children, 3 (50%) had intrathoracic lymphadenopathy.
CONCLUSION: The majority of the children with TBM, including the very young, did not have signs suggestive of TB on CXR.
Keywords: central nervous system; chest X-ray; diagnostics; tuberculosis
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa 2: Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Vrije University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 3: Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity Institute and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Victoria, Australia
Publication date: 01 February 2015
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.
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