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The prevalence, diagnosis and surgical risk factors of spinal tuberculosis in children
Author(s) -
Wang MaoShui,
Han Chao,
Wang JunLi,
Liu FengLin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.13411
Subject(s) - medicine , radiological weapon , tuberculosis , pediatrics , medical record , public health , spinal surgery , surgery , pathology
Objective To date, the burden of childhood spinal TB in China has not been estimated, and current treatment is hindered by a lack of evidence. This study aimed to review our experience of childhood spinal TB. Methods We reviewed the medical records of paediatric patients (≤15 years) admitted for spinal TB (confirmed or possible) at Shandong Provincial Chest Hospital from January 2006 to December 2019. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiological data were collected from medical records and analysed retrospectively. Results Seventy‐two patients were diagnosed with spinal TB. 45 were male (62.5%), and 27 female (37.5%), with a mean age of 8.42 ± 4.47 (SD) years. During this 14‐year period, the overall prevalence of spinal TB among childhood TB was 4.5%. T‐SPOT.TB, AFB smear, mycobacterial culture, TB RT‐PCR and biopsies were positive in 29.6%, 14.3%, 23.3%, 43.8% and 88.5% of assayed patients, respectively. The overall surgical rate of the studied patients was 40.3%. The requirement of surgery in childhood spinal TB was associated with pulmonary TB (OR = 4.000, 95% CI: 1.197, 13.367). Conclusion Spinal TB in children cannot be neglected. It remains a severe problem to public health, and more attention should be paid to initiating treatment early.