The DOTS strategy for treatment of paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis in South Delhi, India
Sharma, S.; Sarin, R.; Khalid, U.K.; Singla, N.; Sharma, P.P.; Behera, D.
International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 12(1): 74-80
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1027-3719 PMID: 18173881 Document Number: 200276
Paediatric Pulmonology Department, TB Institute, New Delhi, India. To evaluate the outcome of the DOTS strategy for paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Retrospective analysis of 1098 children. The mean age of the children included in the study was 11.2 years, with more females (61.7%) than males (38.3%). In the 0-5, 6-10 and 11-14 year age groups, the percentage of patients was respectively 18.3%, 26.6% and 55.1%. Patients were registered as new cases (87.7%), relapses (1.9%), failures (1.0%), defaulters (5.0%), transferred in (0.9%) and others (3.5%). Of the total number of cases, 414 were smear-positive and 404 smear-negative, while sputum status was not known for 280 patients. Sputum positivity increased with age. Category I, II and III regimens were started by respectively 50.6%, 10.5% and 38.9% patients. The cure rate was 92.4% (302/327) for new and 92% (80/87) for retreatment cases (chi(2)(1) = 0.02, P = 0.901), but the treatment completion rate was significantly higher for new cases (97%, 636/656) than retreatment cases (53.6%, 15/28) (chi(2)(1) = 100.8, P < 0.001). The overall success rate was 95.4% and 82.6% for new and retreatment cases, respectively (chi(2)(1) = 30.35, P < 0.001). Overall, the rates for default, failure and death in the study were respectively 3%, 1.9% and 1%. DOTS appears to be a highly efficacious treatment strategy.