TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is characterized by vague constitutional symptoms and a protracted course of illness with remissions and exacerbations. This disease is widely prevalent throughout the world with nearly 1, 70,000 children dying of it every year. Due to improved standard of living and better sanitation the incidence of tuberculosis has steadily declined in the affluent and highly developed countries. Cases of tuberculosis in children represent 5-15 percent of all the tubercular cases. Childhood tuberculosis is mainly a result of tuberculosis control in adults. The usual mode of infection is through of droplets of infected secretions and this may be a source of infection through breathing. Rarely infection may be transmitted through skin, mucous membrane or transplacentally. The incubation period varies between 4 and 8 weeks and the clinical features usually start with the development of hypersensitivity to tubercular proteins. The cough is an inconstant symptom and may be absent even in the advanced disease, fever for more than weeks, recent loss of appetite and weight or failure to thrive. Tests like tuberculin test is a useful diagnostic aid and frequently used tests are Monteux and multiple puncture tests. Some principles of treatment of this disease are the diagnosis should be made early, treatment should be prompt, adequate, vigorous and prolonged depending on the severity of the illness and intercurrent infections should be prevented or treated vigorously.