Childhood Tuberculosis in Sub-saharan Africa

Objective: Tuberculosis remains a public health problem in Burkina Faso and sub-Saharan Africa.The purpose of this study was to describe epidemiological, clinical and para-clinical aspects of childhood tuberculosis in sub-saharan hospital settings. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study of new cases of tuberculosis diagnosed between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2016 in the pediatric department of Bobo-Dioulasso University Hospital (Burkina Faso). Results: The study included twenty eight (28) children with an average age of 8.3 years. The main part of patients (60.7%) came from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds. BCG immunization coverage was 92.9%; a contagion history was found in 42.9% of cases. Malnutrition was present in 82.1% and the combination HIV / tuberculosis were 17.8%. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most frequent clinical form (50%). Sputum was positive in 2 children. Nodes location (35.7%) was the main extrapulmonary form. Conclusions: Pulmonary tuberculosis in children is common in sub-saharan Africa. National free care processing policy is welcome but a strengthening of diagnostic capacity will allow an optimal management of the child life infection.