Gruźlica dziecięca

Summary
Although tuberculosis in children accounts only for 10% of total TBs morbidity, it still remains a significant medical problem all over the world. In Poland in the year 2008 0.9% of the tuberculosis incidence were diagnosed in children. The most common form of the disease is pulmonary tuberculosis whereas the most common extrapulmonary localization is the pleural cavity. The major value of BCG vaccination is the fact that nowadays the occurrence of h(a)ematogenous tuberculosis or bronchogenic tuberculosis is infrequent. The natural history and clinical manifestation of this disease differ substantially in children as compared with adults. Tuberculosis in children is paucibaccilary. Therefore diagnostic process is connected with difficulties, especially in latent or extrapulmonary TB. Latent tuberculosis is an indication for tuberculostatic treatment. In our country the incidence of such cases is unknown because these cases are not considered in the statistic data. Currently the clinical manifestation of tuberculosis in children presents with scanty symptoms. Diagnostic standards of tuberculosis in children did not change for many years. Epidemiological investigation, tuberculin skin test, chest radiogram and bronchoscopy must be performed if pulmonary tuberculosis is suspected. However, new diagnostic tests seem to be promising, they have already shortened the time which must pass from the moment we start suspecting tuberculosis infection to the moment that we can start the treatment.