RESUMO
The purpose of study is to know the admission rate and spectrum of the tuberculosis in children admitted in the pediatric unit of a high endemic country. This retrospective study was conducted at the Pediatric unit-I, Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur. The records of children older than one month but below 15 years of age diagnosed as tuberculosis [TB] during the years 2007-2011 were reviewed and were included for the study. The data [age, sex, history of contact, BCG vaccination, tuberculin test, diagnosis] were entered on a proforma. Data were entered into SPPS version 13 [Statistical Package for Social Sciences] package were presented as rates and proportions. There were 72765 children [excluding children below the age of one month] admitted during the period of five years [2007-2011], out of which 847[1.16%] were diagnosed as tuberculosis. There was no consistent fall in admission rate over the years due to TB cases. There were 61% male cases. The maximum cases were reported under the age of 4 years [46%]. Out of total 847 TB cases BCG scar was present in only 410 [48.4%] cases. The history of contact with adult TB case was found in 243 [28.7%]. Tuberculin skin test was positive [>/= 10mm] in 309 [36.5%] cases. The most common forms of TB were tuberculous meningitis and pulmonary tuberculosis each accounting for 37.5% cases. Other forms of tuberculosis included TB pleural effusion 12.5%, TB abdomen 7.1%, miliary TB 3.1% and TB arthritis 2.2%. The most common form of TB is meningitis and pulmonary each accounting for 37.5% cases and the maximum cases were reported under the age of 4 years