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DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1308985
A Case of Disseminated Tuberculosis with Psoas Abscess in a 12-Year-Old Girl with Sickle Cell Trait
Disseminierte Tuberkulose mit Psoasabszess bei einem 12-jährigen Mädchen mit heterozygoter SichelzellanämiePublication History
Publication Date:
13 April 2012 (online)
Introduction
In the light of the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, TB in children remains a neglected area. Published figures on incidence of tuberculosis are outdated, and current WHO documents do not report childhood TB epidemiology. In the European Economic Area, children contributed 4,3% of all new TB cases from 2000 to 2009 (Sandgren et al. Euro Surveill 2011). The overall incidence dropped slightly from 5,5 to 4,2 per 100 000 per year, but 14 countries reported an increase in paediatric TB incidence, while 11 countries reported a decrease. In poorly controlled high-transmission settings like the Western Cape, South Africa, it was found that children <13 years experienced a TB incidence of 441/100 000/year, 52,2% of that recorded in adults (Marais Indian J Pediatr 2011, 78, 321–327).
In HIV negative children, disseminated TB is usually expected in lower age groups, occurring in up to 20% in children <1 year with active TB, but only in <0,5% in children with active TB in our patient’s age group (Kruger et al. Klin Padiatr 1998, 210, 425–427; Marais et al. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2004, 8, 392–402). Due to the possibly serious consequences of disseminated TB, it is therefore important to maintain awareness for this disease even in a low-incidence setting like Germany.