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"Tuberculosis
in children is caused by inhalation of bacteria, which are disseminated
into air during coughing by patients having tuberculosis of lungs.
From lungs, the disease spreads to other organs of the body including
brain, abdomen, kidneys, bones and joints, etc," explained Dr. S.
Qamar Nizami, Consultant Paediatrician at Aga Khan University Hospital
(AKUH). He was giving a presentation on "Childhood Tuberculosis" at the monthly public health awareness programme, 'Signs, Symptoms
and Care' on August 3, 2002.
Dr. Nizami explained
that tuberculosis in children is difficult to diagnose but it is
a treatable disease. The disease is caused by a bacterium known
as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is spread by adults suffering
from tuberculosis of lungs called pulmonary tuberculosis. The bacteria
are disseminated into air during coughing which are inhaled by other
people including children. The infected children first get pulmonary
tuberculosis, which is different from the adult tuberculosis and
is called primary complex. In most cases it heals completely but
in certain children it may produce various signs and symptoms. From
lungs, the disease spreads to other organs and results in abdominal
tuberculosis, tuberculosis meningitis, tuberculosis arthritis or
tuberculosis of kidneys. The symptoms of tuberculosis are often
non-specific and include persistent fever, lack of appetite, lack
of weight gain or weight loss, etc.
Dr. Nizami explained, "In children it is often difficult to isolate the bacteria that
is easy in adults, as children usually do not produce sputum. A
high degree of suspicion is needed to diagnose tuberculosis in children.
The tests which are used to diagnose tuberculosis, depend upon the
site of infection and include Manteux test, X-rays of chest and
other parts of the body, CT scan, biopsy of tissues and culture,
etc."
Dr. Nizami concluded
on a positive message, informing, "the treatment is simple and easy.
Most cases need six to eight months' treatment. The drugs need to
be taken regularly in spite of improvement in condition. This is
important as failure to complete the treatment results in drug resistance
and relapse of the disease. The drugs include INH, rifampicin, pyrazinamide,
ethambutol, streptomycin, etc."
The speaker and the panellists that included Dr. A. Gaffar Billoo, Dr.
Ayesha Mirza and Dr. Shabina Ariff, participated in the question
and answer session at the end of the programme.
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