Clinical features and prognosis of 206 children with pulmonary tuberculosis

<bold>Objective:</bold> The purpose of this study was to summarize the clinical features and prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children. <bold>Methods:</bold> A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 206 children with pulmonary tuberculosis in the respiratory department of Beijing Children's Hospital from 2017 to 2021. <bold>Results:</bold> Out of 206 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, 118 (57.28%) were clinically diagnosed and 88 (42.72%) were pathogenetically confirmed. Among the cases, 155 cases (75.24%) were classified as primary pulmonary tuberculosis, 26 cases (12.62%) as miliary tuberculosis, 70 cases (33.98%) as bronchial tuberculosis, 34 cases (16.50%) had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. A total of 83 cases (40.29%) had a history of tuberculosis contact, under 3 years of age accounted for 82 cases (39.81%). The main clinical symptoms were cough (157 cases, 76.21%) and fever (156 cases, 75.73%). 57 cases (27.67%) had treated with second-line drugs,. Sixteen cases (7.77%) were lost to follow-up, and of the remaining 190 cases (92.23%), 118 (57.28%) had a good prognosis and 72 (34.95%) had a poor prognosis, with imaging manifestations of fibrous striae 16.02%, bronchiectasis 5.34%, pulmonary atelectasis 4.37%, pleural thickening 16.50%; bronchial stenosis 22.82%, bronchial occlusion 4.37%. Severe tuberculosis infection (OR: 0.311, P=0.034) and combined extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (OR: 8.031, P=0.018) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The main types of pulmonary tuberculosis in children are primary tuberculosis. About one-third of children with pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis have radiographic sequelae.