TY - JOUR T1 - Severe tuberculosis forms in children in Romania JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P2868 AU - Ramona Nedelcu AU - Horia Cocei AU - Elmira Ibraim Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2868.abstract N2 - Introduction: Despite the sharp decrease of TB incidence rate in children in Romania in the recent years, some dozens of severe forms of disease are still reported each year. Aim and objectives: To analyze the demographic and clinic profile of severe TB forms in children in Romania, in 2010 and 2011. Method: The records of children with TB meningitis and miliaria reported in 2010 and 2011 have been extracted from the electronic National TB Register of Romania and have been analyzed by demographic and clinic parameters. Results: There have been registered 106 children with severe TB forms, 53 in each year. The meningitis was more frequent than miliaria: 62.3% in 2010 and 58.5% in 2011. Of 106 cases, 48.1% were males and 63.2% were living in rural. By age group, the higher percentage (38.7%) were up to one year old. In 11 miliaria cases TB meningitis has also been diagnosed and in 3 cases a previous TB episode has been notified. Less then one third of children (28.3%) have been tested for HIV infection, none of them positive. Despite difficulties in bacteriological confirmation of TB in children, 24.5% had positive microscopy and 30.2% positive culture in appropriate biological samples. No drug-resistant TB form has been reported. Overall successful outcome has been reached in 77.4% of cases; however, 12.3% of children deceased and 4.7% abandoned treatment before completion. Conclusion: There are still some dozens of cases with severe forms of TB reported each year, raising important challenges in early detection, accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of childhood TB in the country. Achievement of successful outcome in such cases is of top priority. ER -