Clinical scoring system for paediatric tuberculosis in HIV-infected and non-infected children in Rio de Janeiro
Pedrozo, C.; Sant'Anna, C.; de Fátima March, M.; Lucena, S.
International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 13(3): 413-415
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 1027-3719 PMID: 19275806 Document Number: 205899
The scoring system for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) used in Brazil has already been validated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative tuberculous children. Here we studied HIV-positive children. The individuals were divided into four groups: 1) tuberculous infection; 2) other pulmonary diseases; 3a) pulmonary TB and 3b)pulmonary TB and HIV. Group 3a had a significantly higher score than Groups 1 and 2, and Group 1 had a higher score than Group 2. Scores for Group 3b were lower than for Group 3a, although they were still >30 points, which is enough to establish a TB diagnosis (P = 0.0005). The system was useful for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB in HIV-negative and -positive children.