Miliary tuberculosis in children. A clinical review.

Eighty cases of miliary tuberculosis admitted to our hospital between January 1981 and December 1984 were reviewed. The age of the patients ranged from 3 months to 12 years, with an average of 2 years 2 months (26.5 months). Nine cases (11.25%) died during hospitalization due to the severe condition at the time of admission. Only 8 patients (10%) were in good nutritional condition. Seventy-two patients (90%) had been visiting the primary health care clinic for several times since 2-3 months but were never diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis. Fever or recurrent fever were found in 78 cases (97.5%), anorexia in 65 cases (81.3%), chronic and/or recurrent cough in 72 cases (90%) and malaise in 43 (53.8%). Forty-one (51.3%) denied the presence of a close contact with source of infection. Hepatomegaly was found in 44 cases (55%), 19 (23.8%) of which were associated with splenomegaly. Choroidal tubercle was found in 4 cases; 1 case with coxitis, 1 with brain tuberculoma, 1 with ascites, 1 with endobronchitis and 1 with hepatitis. Forty-three (53.8%) were tuberculin negatives, 24 of which become positives after treatment. Fourteen cases had BCG scar. History of measles was found in 21 cases. Children with longterm and recurrent fever, anorexia, decrease of body weight and recurrent cough should be suspected of having TB thus enabling to get an early diagnosis.