Tuberc Respir Dis.  1969 Mar;16(1):29-35. 10.4046/trd.1969.16.1.29.

Clinical Observation of Miliary Tuberculosis in Child-hood

• KMID: 2529161
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1969.16.1.29

Abstract

A clinical and analytical study on 56 cases of miliary tuberculosis admitted to Mapo Hospital was done aged 5 months to 15 years. During the last 12 years from 1954 to Oct. 31, 1965. The results were as follows: 1) The highest incidence was noted in the age group of the children from 2 to 6 years old and the incidence of the female patients was higher than that of the male. 2) The source of infection confirmable was in 26.8 % and most of them were among the same family members. 3) Fever, cough, and sputum were common initial symptoms. The duration before the admission after the onset was 1 to 3 months in most cases and it showed that the shorter duration the better prognosis. 4) The rate of weight loss found on admission was 25 to 40 % of normal, in majority, and the group of 50 % weight loss or more revealed higher mortality reaching to 50 %. 5) The average duration for disappearance of the abnormal chest X-ray shadows was 8. 4 months and the prognosis was closely related to the density of X-ray shadow rather than the type, that is, the progonosis was poor in the cases of dense shadow than that of coarse one. 6) Tuberculin test was negative in 30. 3% of the tested cases and the mortality of them was 35.3 % while 10.7 % in positive group. 7) On the bacteriological examination for tuberculosis, 14.6% of the examined cases were culture positive. 8) If there is no complication and the proper treatment could begin in time. the prognosis of miliary tuberculosis seems to be quite favorable judging from our observation. The mortality of pure miliary tuberculosis cases was only 5.3 % in our cases, although the initiation of proper treatment was much delayed in most cases.