[Tuberculous meningitis in children]. / Tuberkuløs meningitis hos børn.

Medical records of six children with tuberculous meningitis were reviewed. The patients were admitted to the paediatric departments in the city and country of Copenhagen between 1983 and 1997. Interpretation of cerebrospinal fluid findings, and difficulties in early recognition of tuberculous meningitis are discussed.

[Occurrence of tuberculosis among children in the area of Copenhagen 1984-1993]. / Tuberkuloseforekomst blandt børn i Københavnsområdet 1984-1993.

This study was undertaken to describe the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and prognosis of childhood tuberculosis in Copenhagen, with special attention to differences between Danish children and children of foreign origin. Medical records for all children with tuberculosis cared for in the hospitals of the Copenhagen area 1984-1993 were reviewed. Sixty-six patients were identified. Sixteen of 20 Danish patients (80%) and 67% of foreign children had respiratory tuberculosis. Tuberculosis located in cervical lymph nodes was found only in children of foreign origin. Five patients had meningitis. The high incidence among foreign children reflects the incidence in their home countries, but poorer living conditions among ethnic minorities in Denmark may facilitate transmission of tuberculosis. Severe manifestations of tuberculosis still occur, even in a low incidence country.

[Infections with mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis in children]. / Infektioner med mykobakterier andre end M. tuberculosis hos børn.

We reviewed case records of 22 children who were diagnosed as having nontuberculous mycobacterial infection. All children were previously healthy. In 20 cases the infection presented as cervical lymphadenitis. The patients were between ten months and 14 years old, and two thirds were between 13 and 36 months old. The majority (74%) were girls. Mycobacterium avium/intracellulare was isolated most frequently (55%). The report describes the diagnosis and treatment of childhood mycobacterial cervical adenopathy. All patients except one were treated surgically. We found considerable differences in both preoperative and operative management. When excision of the lymph node (as opposed to needle biopsy) was performed, diagnosis could be made earlier and repeated surgical procedures could be avoided.

[Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. A cause of severe iron deficiency anemia in childhood]. / Idiopatisk pulmonal haemosiderose. En årsag til svoer jernmangelanoemi i barnealderen.

The most common cause of anaemia in childhood is iron deficiency. Anaemia due to poor dietary iron is seen most often between 9-24 months of age in infants being fed with large amounts of milk during periods of high growth rate. After the age of two years one must look for other causes of iron deficiency, particularly blood loss. In the description of three cases of idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis, the problems of severe chronic anaemia in childhood are discussed. Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis is a rare disease in children, characterized by iron deficiency, anaemia and pulmonary symptoms. It has a high mortality, mostly due to acute pulmonary haemorrhage. However, early diagnosis is important, as some therapeutical regimens have succeeded in delaying the pulmonary haemorrhages and a few patients have possibly gained complete remission.