Characteristics of tuberculosis in adolescents: a contribution to the tuberculosis control program

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To analyze the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of tuberculosis in adolescents/young adults and compare them with those observed in adults. Methods: We evaluated a group of 203 patients with tuberculosis, of whom 77 were adolescents/young adults (group A) and 126 were adults (group B). The following variables were compared: sex, clinical form, sputum examination, tuberculin skin test, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serology, and reason for outcome. Results: In both groups, tuberculosis was more prevalent in males (62.3% and 50.8% of patients in groups A and B, respectively, with p > 0.05). The pulmonary form was the most frequent in both groups, having been diagnosed in 79.2% of individuals in group A and in 78.6% of those in group B ( p > 0.05). Among the extrapulmonary forms of the disease, pleural tuberculosis was more common in individuals in group A (87.5% vs. 51.9%). Regarding the results of complementary exams, there was no significant difference between the groups. Favorable and unfavorable outcomes were the same in both ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: The characteristics of tuberculosis were similar in both groups, except for the higher frequency of pleural tuberculosis in group A. Descriptors: Tuberculosis; teenagers; adults Abstract: Objective: To assess the demographic, clinical and laboratorial characteristics of tuberculosis presentation in adolescents/young adults and compare them with those observed in adults. Methods: A group of 203 patients with tuberculosis was analyzed, from which 77 were adolescents/young adults (group A) and 126 adults (group B). Some variables were collected such as gender, clinical presentation, sputum examination, tuberculinic skin test, anti-HIV serology and type of ending. Results: In both groups tuberculosis was more prevalent in the male gender (62.3% and 50.8% of the patients from groups A and B, respectively, with p > 0.05). The pulmonary form was the most frequent one in both groups and was diagnosed in 79.2% of the individuals in group A and in 78.6% of the individuals in group B ( p > 0.05). Among the extrapulmonary forms of this disease, the pleural one was more common in individuals of group A (87.5% vs. 51.9%). There was no significant difference between the groups according to the results of complementary exams. The favorable and unfavorable endings were similar in both groups ( > 0.05). Conclusion:The characteristics of tuberculosis were similar in both groups, except for the greater frequency of pleural tuberculosis in group A.