Tuberculosis in Black children. A retrospective analysis of severe cases.

A retrospective study of 176 Black children requiring hospital treatment for tuberculosis showed that infants and children under the age of 3 years are especially susceptible. Extensive and disseminated disease is usually present at the time of diagnosis, which was sometimes made difficult by a low tuberculin sensitivity caused by malnutrition, measles, or overwhelming infection. Almost a quarter of the patients had received BCG. Approximately half the patients had disseminated disease; of these, 40% had tuberculous meningitis and 12% died, whereas the mortality of those with localised disease was 3%.