Tuberculosis in immigrant children hospitalized in a general hospital in Barcelona, Spain, between January 2000 and December 2005

• Published in: Acta pediátrica española Vol. 64; no. 11; p. 545
• Main Authors: Martínez-Roig, A, A. Diz Ardid, P. Guevara Carrasco, I. Pou Briera, A. Galdeano Ruiz de Larramendi, Vidal, R Mombiela, M. Bonet Alcaina, V. Seidel Padilla
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madrid Ediciones Mayo 01.11.2006
• Subjects: Epidemiology; Immunization; Noncitizens; Pediatrics; Tuberculosis; Barcelona Spain
• ISSN: 0001-6640; 2014-2986

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to assess the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) infections in children of immigrants who had arrived in Spain within the last five years. Methods: The tuberculin skin test (TST) was performed in: a) all the immigrant children admitted to the Pediatric Unit for suspected TB; b) all those who had been in contact with an adult with TB; and c) all those who, having been in Spain for less than five years, including those born here, had traveled to their country of origin or had received the visit of adults from said country within the last five years. When the TST was positive, imaging studies were performed and specimens (gastric aspirate or sputum) were collected for smear or culture. In children with negative TST who had been vaccinated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the booster effect was assessed 10 to 15 days later. Results: The authors studied 389 children aged between 1 month and 18 years, 286 of whom were under the age of 10 years. The predominant countries were located in Latin America (42.93%) or in Southeast Asia (28.8%). TB was diagnosed in 13 cases and latent TB infection in 22, while the TST was negative in 83.8%. There were statistically significant differences between children who had been vaccinated with BCG (5.1%) and those who had not (13.5%; p= 0.004). No differences were observed in terms of the country of origin or time elapsed since their arrival in Spain. The number of positive TST was significantly higher among older children (p <0.001). There was also a statistically significant predominance of children who had been in contact with active TB (66.7%; p <0.001). The multivariate analysis using logistic regression to determine the relationship between factors revealed statistical significance only for age (p= 0.001). Of the 192 children who had been vaccinated with BCG, TB was detected in 7 and latent TB infection in 18, while the booster effect was present only in 26.22% cases. Conclusions: The probability of a positive TST is higher in older children and those who have been vaccinated with BCG. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]