Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in childhood tuberculosis

Abstract EN

To evaluate the possible usefulness of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis (TB), data from I9S3 to 1996 was collected retrospectively from the national TB registry for children (birth to 14 years).

Diagnosis of active tuberculosis was based on positive sputum or histology and / or abnormal chest X-rays that responded to anti-TB medication.

Of 144 childhood TB patients only 68 (47 %) had ESR recorded at the time of diagnosis.

Twenty two (33 %) had an ESR < l0 mm / hr (normal ESR group) and 46 (67 %) had an ESR ≥ 10 mm / hr (high ESR group).

On follow-up the ESR decreased in all but six cases (4.2 %).

Cases of pulmonary TB and cases with positive cultures had significantly higher ESR values than cases with extra- pulmonary TB and those with negative cultures.

The ESR increased with the age (0.27 mm/hr increase in ESR for each year).

Those with normal chest X-rays had lower ESRs.

Conclusion : In children a normal ESR does not exclude active tuberculosis.

However there were positive correlations with culture-positive cases, pulmonary TB, age and hemoglobin and a negative correlation with normal chest X-rays.