A Study on Various Types of Presentations of Paediatric Tuberculosis and Response to Fixed Dose Combination (FDC)

<b>Background:</b> Tuberculosis in children reflects the prevalence of disease in adults and current transmission rate in the community. Infants and young children are more likely to develop life-threatening forms of TB than adults due to their immature immune systems. <b>Aims and Objectives:</b> To study the various types of presentations of tuberculosis in children and to determine the outcome of fixed dose combination ATT in this group. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> All newly diagnosed cases of TB or EPTB in children ≤18 years of age who were initiated on daily regimen were included in the study. The children were evaluated with clinical and radiological investigations before initiation of ATT and followed up at the end of intensive and continuation phase. <b>Results:</b> A total of 105 children were included in the study; M:F-1.28:1. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common [37(35.23%)] followed by TB lymphadenitis [33 cases (31.42%)]. Disseminated TB was detected in 20 (0.95%) cases and TB pleural effusion in 9 (8.57%). 80 patients completed CP. 69 patients (75.8%) reported a weight gain at the end of IP while 63 (78.75%) patients reported weight gain at the end of CP. 4 patients had deranged LFT during treatment. 3 (2.85%) patients reported raised uric acid levels &amp;1 (0.95%) patient developed optic atrophy. 7 (6.66%) patients with lymphadenitis and 4 (3.8%) with pulmonary TB required extension of CP phase based on the clinical and radiological assessment. <b>Conclusion:</b> Daily Regimen of ATT has proved to be of great benefit in both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. However in conditions like TB lymphadenitis, children are requiring extension of regimen.