[Tuberculosis in Norwegian children--diagnostic challenges].

BACKGROUND

Each year, 20-25 Norwegian children below the age of 18 are diagnosed with tuberculosis in Norway.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

As a demonstration of various difficulties in the work-up and diagnosis of tuberculosis, we present eight infected children aged 15 months to 10 years.

RESULTS

Children often contract the infection from adults and may develop serious manifestations including miliary tuberculosis and meningitis. The symptoms are often not specific and tuberculosis may be mistaken for other diseases. Delay and inappropriate diagnostics may have deleterious consequences.

INTERPRETATION: The main message is to start treatment upon clinical suspicion of tuberculosis. It is mandatory to sample the necessary biological material for microbiological tests before starting treatment.