Problemi speciali
Lezioni dalla tubercolosi
LESSONS FROM TUBERCULOSIS
Fernando Maria De Benedictis1, Patrizia Osimani1, Ascanio Martino1, Laura Bardeggia1, Benedetta Fabrizzi1, Claudio Piersimoni2
1Dipartimento Materno-Infantile, 2Laboratorio Regionale di Riferimento per la Diagnostica delle Infezioni da Micobatteri, Dipartimento dei Servizi Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, Ancona
Novembre 2011 - pagg. 573 -580
Abstract
Tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the last twenty years,
changed social conditions due to immigration have largely modified the epidemiology of
tuberculosis in western countries. Children with tuberculosis are markers of recent disease
transmission, usually from infectious adults. In the majority of cases, they are not infective
and therefore do not transmit the disease. However, they are an important link for epidemiological
purposes. Symptoms of tuberculosis are characteristically nonspecific in
childhood. The diagnosis is challenging and is easy to miss. A thorough history and a complete
physical examination should not be neglected. Laboratory, microbiologic and radiologic
findings may strongly support the diagnosis and specific investigations should be
carried out, if tuberculosis is suspected. In the present article, different cases of pulmonary
(progressive primary disease, postprimary disease) and extrapulmonary (pleural, abdominal,
osteoarticular, meningitis) tuberculosis observed in an Italian third-level paediatric
hospital are described. Diagnostic dilemmas and therapeutic problems that paediatricians
may encounter during their professional activity are discussed.
Parole chiave
Suggerite dall'AI
Classificazione MeSH
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Corrispondenza: debenedictis@ospedaliriuniti.marche.it