ABSTRACT
9049 paediatric patients admitted in three major hospitals of Lahore between April 1980 to March 1981 were retrospectively studied for the prevalence of tuberculosis. Of these 225 [2.5%] patients had tuberculosis which ranked fourth as a cause of both morbidity and mortality the other three in order of frequency being gastroenteritis [46%] respiratory infection [13%] and C. N. S. infection [7%]. In the group with tuberculosis meningeal tuberculosis [56%] was the commonest followed by pulmonary [31.5%] abdominal [5%] and skeletal [2.5%]. The overall mortality in these patients was 11.5%. The under 5 year age group comprised two third of the total group [149 out of 225] and caused 70% of the total mortality T. B. M. being the major killer at 70% in below 5 year olds. There was a preponderance of boys over girls [1.4:1]