[The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis in infants].

The influence of socioepidemic factors on the course of tuberculosis was studied in infants. A hundred and ten cases were analyzed in infants during a 5-year follow-up. Among them, there were 13 babies. All the babies were from the family foci of infection, in most cases, double, triple ones. The disease was detected in the babies mainly when their parents resorted to doctors for complaints, in the children less than 3 years; that was identified in 41% of cases on detecting the contact; 65% of the infants with tuberculosis had asocial living conditions. Difficulties in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children from this age group are due to the fact that its clinical symptoms are similar to other diseases, under the mask of which tuberculosis runs. Tuberculin diagnosis reveals normergic or low tuberculin sensitivity in most children and hyperergic reactions in 28%. Regression of specific changes was delayed. To prevent tuberculosis in infants, it is necessary to examine risk-group pregnant females and the members of their families for tuberculosis, to isolate patients promptly, and to implement a proper package of preventive measures in the foci of tuberculous infection timely.