Radiological patterns of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis in Khartoum state

This hospital based study was undertaken to determine the commonest radiological features of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis in Khartoum, and to correlate these features with the clinical symptoms and laboratory investigations. A total of hundred patients were selected from referred clinics and the paediatric wards (inpatients) of three teaching hospitals in Khartoum, during the period february 95 to april 96. Almost all the families were from low socio economic status. The peak age incidence was at (7, 8, 10) years; 50% of children had received BCG vaccination and history of contact with TB was positive in 35%. Mantoux test was positive in 79% and four cases had smear-positive sputum for AAFB. The most frequent lesion on chest radiography was lemphadenopathy in 67% of cases followed by multiple lesions which were present in 65% of cases. Consolidation was present in 49 cases , 38 showed unilateral changes, while 11 showed bilateral changes. The right and particularly the right middle and lower lobes were more frequently affected. Seven patients had pleural effusion which was sided in five, left sided in one and bilateral in one. Cavitation was present in eight cases, broncho-pneumonic changes in three and only one case had miliary mottling. Positive mantoux test and chest x-ray were present in 72 patients, while all cases with negative mantoux and negative sputum smear showed significant radiological findings. (Author)