Resumen

MACHADO, Karina; PEREIRA, Victoria  y  PIREZ, Catalina. Childhood tuberculosis: a clinical case of atypical presentation. Arch. Pediatr. Urug. [online]. 2015, vol.86, n.1, pp.30-34. ISSN 1688-1249.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), childhood tuberculosis (TB) affects children under 15 years of age. It is accounts for approximately 11% of all cases of TB in the world. In Uruguay, the incidence of TB in children has increased in the recent years. The diagnosis of childhood TB is a challenge because clinical presentation is nonspecific in children, it is often asymptomatic, what delays diagnosis. The study presents the case of a girl with pulmonary and abdominal tuberculosis. She had no epidemiological contact and community acquired pneumonia was the initial clinical presentation. Clinical signs and symptoms failed to improve with treatment, so investigation of other etiologic agents was ruled out. Tuberculin test was positive. Computerized tomography revealed multiple thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes. Diagnosis of pulmonary and abdominal-nodal tuberculosis was suspected, tuberculosis treatment was started. M. tuberculosis infection was confirmed by sputum culture. High suspicion rates of the disease are necessary to provide a timely diagnosis and treatment.

Palabras clave : TUBERCULOSIS; PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS; ABDOMINAL TUBERCULOSIS; CHILD.

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