RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of microbiologically confirmed disease among children diagnosed with tuberculosis using RNTCP guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of a cohort of 151 children (aged between 1 month and 18 years) diagnosed with Tuberculosis between December 2016 and June 2020 at a pediatric department of a tertiary care hospital. We collected information on AFB (Acid Fast Bacillus) smear and Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CB NAAT) results. RESULTS: Out of 151 children with a diagnosis of Tuberculosis, 66 (44%) children were found to have microbiologically confirmed disease. Confirmatory rate was almost equal in children less than <5 and >5 years (48% vs 52%). Confirmatory rate did not differ between pulmonary and extra pulmonary samples (49% and 53%). Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test outperformed AFB by 10%, which was statistically significant (p = .000 by fisher exact test). CONCLUSION: Although considered paucibacillary in nature, microbiological confirmation can be obtained in almost up to half of children with a diagnosis of TB by using RNTCP guidelines. Neither young age nor type of TB is a deterrent to bacteriologically confirm TB in children.
