Osteoarticular tuberculosis in children

• Published in: Indian pediatrics Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. 1133 - 1137
• Main Authors: SINGH, S. B, SARAF, S. K, SINGH, L. I, SRIVASTAVA, T. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Indian Pediatrics 01-09-1992
• Subjects: Adolescent; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Bacterial arthritis and osteitis; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infant; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Radiography; Retrospective Studies; Tropical medicine; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular - diagnostic imaging; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular - drug therapy; Tuberculosis, Spinal - diagnostic imaging; Tuberculosis, Spinal - drug therapy; Asia; India; Human; Infection; Treatment; Tuberculosis; Osteitis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Osteoarticular; Bacteriosis; Mycobacterial infection; Child; Posology
• ISSN: 0019-6061

One hundred and four cases of osteoarticular tuberculosis were studied. There were 74 boys (71.2%) and 30 girls (28.8%). The mean age at the onset of symptoms was 7.3 years, ranging from 9 months to 18 years. Seventy four cases (71%) reported 3 months after onset of symptoms. The spine was the commonest site involved (43%) followed by hip (14.9%) and knee joints (10.3%). Evidence of active or inactive pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 16.2%. All cases were treated by three drug regimen of rifampicin, isoniazid and ethambutol; rifampicin was discontinued after 6 months, ethambutol after 12-14 months. In 12 cases (11.5%) isoniazid was continued for 18 months. Along with chemotherapy suitable braces, splints, tractions, exercises and other form of physical therapy produced satisfactory results. Seventy eight patients (75%) showed clinical and radiological improvement with one year of treatment. The follow up period ranged between 4 months to 24 months with an average of 17 months. Children because of capacity to grow, showed progressive deformity in knee in 3 cases (2.8%), hip in 98 cases (8.6%), shortening of limbs in 14 cases (13.4%) and kyphosis in 13 cases (12.5%).