Upsurge of Paediatric Tuberculosis in Port Harcourt; Nigeria: Has HIV Infection any Role?

ABSTRACT

Background: The Niger Delta region in Southern Nigeria is peculiar; not only for its oil and mineral resources; but also; for the adverse socio-environmental factors; which enhance the occurrence of communicable diseases like tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Because childhood tuberculous infection is a reflection of ongoing transmission in the community and can be reactivated as adult TB; which in turn maintains a chain of transmission; it is important to determine its incidence in this region. Aim: To describe the pattern of paediatric tuberculosis at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH); Port Harcourt; in the Niger Delta and the role; if any; of HIV co-infection in the cases. Methods: A retrospective analysis of children diagnosed to have tuberculosis; using clinical data; tuberculin test and chest radiography; and managed at the UPTH from January 1; 2002 to October 31; 2005 was done. Results: out of 13;367 children aged 0-15 years who received care at UPTH during the period under review; 188 had tuberculosis. The median age of the tuberculosis cases was 2 years. Seventy six percent were under-fives and 53.2 HIV seropositive. Pulmonary tuberculosis (80.6) was the commonest form of the disease. The proportional incidence of tuberculosis and HIV co-infection increased from 0.88 in 2002 to 87.5 in 2005. Conclusion: Tuberculosis and HIV co-infection seems to be an emerging pattern of paediatric tuberculosis infection in Port Harcourt. There is therefore a need to screen all children with tuberculosis for the presence of HIV co-infection