Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in children of Belarus

<b>Introduction:</b> The number of cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is increasing every year in the world. Belarus was one of the 10 countries with the highest burden of MDR-TB in 2016-2020. The aim of the study was to research of cases of MDR-TB compared to cases of drug-sensitive tuberculosis in children. The analyzed group included 26 children with MDR-TB (the first group) and 26 children with drug-sensitive tuberculosis (the second group). <b>Methods:</b> Anamnestic, 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. Each group included 14 boys (53,8 %) and 12 girls (46,2 %). The average age of children in both groups was the same: in the first group – 15,6 ± 3,1 years, in the second group - 15,6 ± 3,0 years. Tuberculosis was detected during screening in 17 (65,4%) children of the first group and in 16 (61,5%) children of the second group (χ² = 0,083; p = 0,774). 13 (50%) children of the first group and 17 (65.4%) children of the second group had cavities in the lungs (χ² = 1,261; p = 0,262). In the first group, 19 (73,1%) children had family contacts with patients with tuberculosis, in the second group - 14 (53,8%) children (χ² = 2,073; p = 0,150). Cases of death of parents and relatives from tuberculosis were noted in 11 (42,3%) families of children of the first group and in 1 (3,8%) family of children of the second group. The difference between the groups is significant: χ² = 10,833; p = &lt;0,001. <b>Conclusions:</b> The deaths of parents and relatives have often been reported in the families of children with MDR-TB. Children from families with cases of death of parents and relatives from tuberculosis are at risk for MDR-TB.