Setting: Clinical and epidemiologic features of childhood tuberculosis in Germany are unknown for recent years. The characteristics of patient groups may show typical differences, depending on the source of data.
Objective: To identify typical features of childhood tuberculosis in Germany, and to relate the characteristics of patient groups to the purpose of the reporting centres.
Design: Comparative, retrospective, descriptive analysis of clinical and notification records by standardized data sheet. Evaluation of cases of active tuberculosis in children recorded between 1985 and 1994 at three study centres.
Results: One clinical study centre was a referral centre for sick children with an unclear diagnosis, the second specialized in tuberculosis, and the third was a public health office. Almost two thirds (64%) of the 285 evaluated patients were four years of age and under. Between 73% and 96% of children suffered from pulmonary disease and 17% to 58% were culture positive (range between study centres). Source cases had been found for 23% to 52% of children, and the primary reason for clinical evaluation was a positive tuberculin test for between 12% and 57%. Foreign-born children showed characteristic differences.
Conclusion: The characteristics of reported childhood tuberculosis differ depending on the reporting centre. A significant number of notified cases were probably wrongly diagnosed.