Objective:

To describe the epidemiology of childhood TB in the Department of Caldas (2016-2018).

Materials and methods:

Observational-descriptive study.

Results:

41 cases were registered (4%, 41 / 1,029). The incidence was 2.96 / 100,000 (2016), 6.31 / 100,000 (2017) and 4.34 / 100,000 (2018). The median age was 10 years (IR 2-16). The female sex contributed 53.66%, the low socioeconomic status predominated (90.24%, 37/41). Manizales contributed the highest case load (43.9%, 18/41). Pulmonary TB occurred in 39.02% of childhood TB cases. 68.29% (28/41) reported having symptoms around 15 days of evolution. 70.73% (29/41) presented cough with expectoration and 65.85% (27/41) reported asthenia or dyspnea. PPD was measured in 65.85% of the population (27/41), being positive (> 10 mm) in 62.96% (17/27). The radiological diagnosis was made in 56.1% (23/41). 10 cases of extrapulmonary TB were reported, the most frequent presentation was lymph node TB (7/10). Two fatal cases occurred.

Discussion:

Childhood tuberculosis in Caldas reflects the nature of the disease, mainly affecting girls with social vulnerabilities. The most common symptom is wet cough with expectoration, similar to other studies developed in Colombia. There is not a diagnostic tool with sufficient performance, so this remains a clinical challenge.

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