Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in pediatric population

Abstract

Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease and the second cause of death from an infectious agent after the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome according to the World Health Organization. Incidence in Colombia for 2008 was 5.47 cases per 100,000 in children under 15 years. However, global statistics suggests that the TB affects 10% of the pediatric population worldwide; in 2010 Cauca’s government reported a total of 298 new cases. The prevention of TB in children has not been a priority talking about governmental policies and pediatric cases help to perpetuate the chain of transmission. Hence, is necessary to increase the research of active cases and latent TB infection by the identification of risky factors and high degree of suspicion of the disease in order to establish chemoprophylaxis or potential curable treatment, and thus, to achieve control and the reduction of morbidity, and mortality. Bearing in mind that the disease has a major negative impact on the population this review is conducted to gather updated information related to the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary TB in children.

Keywords

• Tuberculosis, diagnóstico, tratamiento, niños