[Infants and children who developed tuberculosis following contacts investigation].

OBJECT: Reevaluating the important points in tuberculosis contacts investigation.

SUBJECT AND

METHODS

We retrospectively examined the medical charts of 25 infants and children who developed tuberculosis following contacts investigation.

RESULTS

In thirteen patients, diagnosis of infection was missed, and three of five infants less than one year old suffered from meningitis or military tuberculosis while they were waiting the next examination. Three patients were not indicated preventive treatment despite of induration of 5 mm or more in tuberculin skin test. Other twelve patients including five infants less than one year old were diagnosed to have tuberculosis infection and started preventive therapy, however, tuberculosis developed in 10 patients while taking the medicine, and in two patients probably because of defaulting from taking the medicine.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the contacts investigation have to be done promptly and be flexible based on age of contacts, evaluation of tuberculin skin test results and radiographic findings in order to reduce the disease further.