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Pediatric Tuberculosis

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Pediatric Chest Imaging

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a transmittable chronic disease caused by infection with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. It is a global public health problem with one-third of the world's population being infected, and is a leading cause of death and disability from infection. Children are amongst the most vulnerable group because of their immature immune status. A child usually gets TB infection after being exposed to a sputum-positive adult and it can have devastating effects if left untreated. Depending on many factors, the infection can lead to latency or TB disease. Clinical signs and symptoms can be diverse and could depend on the location of the lesions, extent of disease, as well as the age, and state of patient’s immune status. TB can affect every organ in the body, but pulmonary infection is by far the most common. TB in children remains a diagnostic challenge. In addition to history of TB exposure, signs and symptoms, laboratory and microbiologic tests, medical imaging remains a valuable tool in its diagnosis. In some instances, particularly in difficult cases, imaging offers the only way to a thorough evaluation of the extent of the disease and to reach a correct diagnosis. Radiograph is the most commonly ordered initial imaging tool for screening and diagnosis of pulmonary involvement but other imaging modalities especially computed tomography offers more detailed assessment of lung, adenopathy, pericardial, and pleural disease. Medical imaging is also utilized to follow-up patients during or after anti-TB treatment. Knowledge of the common imaging patterns, pitfalls, and dilemma are very important in establishing the diagnosis of TB in children. The chapter discusses the pathophysiology of pediatric TB as it correlates with imaging findings. The wide spectrum of imaging manifestations on thoracic tuberculosis is presented.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Fernandes Figueira-Fiocruz and Clinica de Diagnóstico por Imagem – Barrashopping, Av. das Américas 4666, sala 325-Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Rj-Brasil, 22649-900, Brazil

    Pedro Daltro

  2. Instituto Fernandes Figueira-Fiocruz, Rua Almirante Guillobel 93/402 Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro, Rj-Brasil, 22471-150, Brazil

    Eloá Nunez-Santos

  3. St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City, Institute of Radiology, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, 1634, Philippines

    Bernard F. Laya

Authors
  1. Pedro Daltro
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  2. Eloá Nunez-Santos
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  3. Bernard F. Laya
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernard F. Laya .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Radiology, Vall d´Hebron Children´s University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

    Pilar Garcia-Peña

  2. Department of Pediatric Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    R. Paul Guillerman

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Daltro, P., Nunez-Santos, E., Laya, B.F. (2013). Pediatric Tuberculosis. In: Garcia-Peña, P., Guillerman, R. (eds) Pediatric Chest Imaging. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2013_833

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2013_833

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-37336-7

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