Felten M K, Rath T, Magdorf K, Klett M, Leichsenring M
University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 1998 Oct;2(10):797-803.
Clinical and epidemiologic features of childhood tuberculosis in Germany are unknown for recent years. The characteristics of patient groups may show typical differences, depending on the source of data.
To identify typical features of childhood tuberculosis in Germany, and to relate the characteristics of patient groups to the purpose of the reporting centres.
Comparative, retrospective, descriptive analysis of clinical and notification records by standardized data sheet. Evaluation of cases of active tuberculosis in children recorded between 1985 and 1994 at three study centres.
One clinical study centre was a referral centre for sick children with an unclear diagnosis, the second specialized in tuberculosis, and the third was a public health office. Almost two thirds (64%) of the 285 evaluated patients were four years of age and under. Between 73% and 96% of children suffered from pulmonary disease and 17% to 58% were culture positive (range between study centres). Source cases had been found for 23% to 52% of children, and the primary reason for clinical evaluation was a positive tuberculin test for between 12% and 57%. Foreign-born children showed characteristic differences.
The characteristics of reported childhood tuberculosis differ depending on the reporting centre. A significant number of notified cases were probably wrongly diagnosed.
近年来德国儿童结核病的临床和流行病学特征尚不清楚。根据数据来源的不同，患者群体的特征可能会呈现出典型差异。
确定德国儿童结核病的典型特征，并将患者群体的特征与报告中心的目的相关联。
通过标准化数据表对临床和通报记录进行比较、回顾性、描述性分析。对1985年至1994年期间在三个研究中心记录的儿童活动性结核病例进行评估。
一个临床研究中心是诊断不明患病儿童的转诊中心，第二个专门研究结核病，第三个是公共卫生办公室。在285名接受评估的患者中，近三分之二（64%）为4岁及以下儿童。73%至96%的儿童患有肺部疾病，17%至58%的儿童培养结果呈阳性（各研究中心之间的范围）。23%至52%的儿童找到了传染源，临床评估的主要原因是结核菌素试验呈阳性，比例在12%至57%之间。出生在国外的儿童表现出特征性差异。
报告的儿童结核病特征因报告中心而异。大量通报病例可能被误诊。
