Abstract

ARENAS-SUAREZ, Nelson E et al. Prevalence of childhood tuberculosis in Armenia, Colombia. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2010, vol.12, n.6, pp.1000-1009. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objective To determine the childhood tuberculosis prevalence and its socio-demographics factors associated to this population in Armenia (Colombia). Methodology A retrospective-descriptive study was carried out; TB patients under the age of 14 years were included and notified to the TB control program in Armenia, those who started a Directly Observed Treatment Supervised (DOTS) scheme among from 2000 to 2009 years. Results 58 TB cases were described, most cases have occurred in 2009 (12 cases) followed by the 2008 (8 cases) and 2006 (7 cases) respectively. Thus, Armenia has a high rate of prevalence (16.6 cases/100 000 inhabitants). Pulmonary forms had greater proportion with 74 %, of which 34 % were positive to sputum examination revealed Acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Epidemiological link allowed confirmation of 21 % of cases. TB treatment cohort revealed that 5 % of patients were cured, finished 17 %, transferred 4 %, dead 7% and in 67 % of cases the results were not documented. Conclusion Nowadays TB still an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. The good BCG vaccine covertures and the high prevalence of pulmonary forms in childhood TB indicates that the most plausible explanation for this high prevalence is a failure in early detection of bacilli positive patients to cut recent transmission in this municipality.

Keywords : Tuberculosis; BCG vaccine; latent tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

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