Abstract

SILVA, Sílvia Ferreira et al. Tuberculosis in children: the importance of screening. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.3, pp.180-184. ISSN 2182-5173.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major problem in public health. Every year there are about 9 million new cases and around 2 million deaths worldwide. Control of TB in children is often been neglected, as children are considered less contagious than adults. Case report: We report the case of an 2 year-old girl diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis following screening of contacts with a great-uncle who was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in the contagious phase. Comment: In children, screening of TB is important because children can act as reservoirs of the disease, with subsequent morbidity and mortality from TB in childhood.

Keywords : Tuberculosis; Screening; Transmission.

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