Tuberculosis among children in Kenya: epidemiology and impact of HIV in two provinces

J Trop Pediatr. 2012 Aug;58(4):292-6. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmr098. Epub 2011 Dec 5.

Abstract

We collected clinical register data on children in two provinces of Kenya and conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses to assess characteristics associated with death. Among 987 children with tuberculosis (TB), pulmonary disease was diagnosed in 689 (70%) children. Final outcomes were known for 830 children, 40 (5%) of whom died during TB treatment. HIV test results were available for 670 (68%) children; 371 (55%) of whom tested positive. Only 63 of 134 (47%) of children <1 year were tested for HIV. There were no data on CD4 or anti-retroviral use. The relative risk for death for HIV-infected children compared to HIV-uninfected children was 9.3 for children <1 year [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-69.2], 3.9 for children aged 1-4 (95% CI 0.9-17.7) and 0.9 for children aged 5-14 (95% CI 0.3-2.6). In Kenya, HIV infection in children with TB is common, and our data suggest that HIV is particularly deadly in TB patients <1 year, the group with the lowest rate of testing. Poor data recording and reporting limit our understanding of TB in this age group. Expansion of HIV testing may improve survival, and more complete data recording and reporting will enhance our understanding of pediatric TB.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / complications*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Age Distribution
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / complications*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents