Tuberculosis in children from contact with relatives affected by tuberculosis

Children from families with pulmonary tuberculosis have the highest risk for tuberculosis. The objective of this study was to research of 230 cases of tuberculosis in children from contact with relatives affected by tuberculosis. <b>Patients:</b> The analyzed group included 153 children from contact with the mother, father or both parents (the first group) and 77 children from contact with other relatives (the second group). <b>Methods:</b> Clinical, bacteriological, X-ray methods and statistical analysis have been applied. <b>Results:</b> Both groups did not differ by quantity of boys and girls. The first group included 70 boys (45,8 %) and 83 girls (54,2 %), the second group - 29 boys (37,7 %) and 48 girls (62,3 %). Differences between groups is not valid: χ² = 1,057; р = 0,304. The average age of children of the first group was 13,81 ± 4,60 years, in children of the second group - 14,62 ± 4,10 years (t = -1,302, р=0,194). Children of the first group rarely had respiratory complaints during the detection of tuberculosis (18,3%). Tuberculosis is often diagnosed using X-rays (60,8%) or using the Mantoux test (20,9%). Children of the second group often had respiratory complaints (39,0 %). Tuberculosis in these children is often diagnosed using X-rays (50,6%), less frequently, using the Mantoux test (10,4%). Differences between groups is valid: χ² = 12,850; p = 0,002. The first group of children often needed social support (47,7 %) compared to the children of the second group (32,5 %): χ² = 4,265; p = 0,039. <b>Conclusions:</b> We have identified differences in tuberculosis at children from contact with the mother, father or both parents with tuberculosis and children from contact with other relatives with tuberculosis.