COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS IN PEDIATRIC AGE GROUP IN INDIA: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background: The risk of tuberculosis increases dramatically during adolescence, and young people face unique challenges in terms of case detection and effective treatment. However, little is known about the burden of tuberculosis among young people in the modern era. India has one of the highest tuberculosis (TB) burdens globally. Very few studies have focused on TB in young children.

Objective: Evaluate the efficacy of different microbiological tests in diagnosis of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis

Method: This prospective observational study in the department of Microbiology, Mamata Medical College and Mamata General Hospital, Khammam  in which  total of 213 suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients in the age group 1-15 years are evaluated with different microbiological tests for further confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Result: 213 children with suspected TB were enrolled. 41.70% were female, 58.30% were female, 87.30% had received BCG, of the total 135 (63.38%) had fever, 166 (77.93%) had cough, 141 (66.19%) had weight loss and 80 (37.55%) given history of contact. Mantoux TST were positive in 74 (34.74%) children. Among 107(50.70%) out of total patients’ probable tuberculosis was found which were further tested by PCR, in which 23(21.49%) were found positive. Thus after analysing all the data it is found that, 65 (30.51%) were categorised to have TB, 85(78.51%) can’t be ruled out for TB and 64 (30.04%) do not have TB.

Conclusion: PCR assay showed a high degree of specificity, sensitivity and especially rapidity of detection of tuberculosis, but due to high cost PCR it can be used as diagnostic tool when high suspicion of TB is present.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, Mantoux TST, BCG, PCR