Prevalence of tuberculous lymphadenitis in children in Wardha district, Maharashtra State, India.

SETTING

Rural area of Wardha district, Maharashtra State, Central India.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of tuberculous lymphadenitis in children aged 0-14 years in the study area and to assess factors that may contribute towards the prevalence.

DESIGN

House to house survey of a population of 23,229 in 35 neighbouring villages with 7900 children aged 0-14 years from May 1993 to May 1994 and from March 1995 to February 1996.

RESULTS

The prevalence of tuberculous lymphadenitis/1000 children was 4.43. The maximum prevalence was in the 5-9 years age group. The prevalence was 34 times higher in children with positive family history of tuberculosis than in those without a history. There was an association between prevalence and the living standards of the children, with a higher prevalence in families that belonged to an underprivileged social class living in thatched, improvised houses. Multiple cervical lymph nodes >2 cm and with matting and fluctuation were found to be characteristic clinical features.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of peripheral lymphadenopathy was 27.2/1000 children and that of tuberculous lymphadenitis was 4.43/1000. Positive history of contact in the family was a significant epidemiological indicator of tuberculous glands.