[Decrease of tuberculosis in children in GDR - facts, data and conclusions].

With decrease of tuberculosis among children GDR to nearly insignificant numbers nonspecific respiratory diseases have taken precedence in the health care of children. Nevertheless tuberculosis must not be forgotten in differential diagnostic consideration. Prophylaxis of tuberculosis exposition is becoming a predominant task. Immunoprophylaxis by BCG-vaccination should be carried on, yet treatment of tuberculous children should be started centrally at the children's hospital for pulmonary diseases at Harzgerode (GDR) also further on. The following ambulatory therapy should be done under the control of the district centres for respiratory diseases among children in close cooperation with the appropriate policlinical department for pulmonary disease (PALT) and the hospital at Harzgerode. Tuberculosis has to remain an important component of medical education of students and postgraduate education of pediatricians in spite of its low incidence, in future too.