Tuberculosis in the child: features, symptoms, treatment

Parents of each child dream that he never hurt. But sometimes you can not avoid diseases even with constant monitoring of your child's health. It is especially bad when a child becomes infected with an adult disease - tuberculosis. The child's organism is not completely formed yet, therefore the pathology is transferred much worse, than in more mature age. This carries the risk of serious complications, which are often even more dangerous than the disease that caused them.

Tuberculosis in the child: features and causes

Tuberculosis is the infectious disease caused by the stick of Koch and other kinds of mycobacteria that spread when talking, coughing, sneezing an infected person by airborne droplets. If a child with a weak immune system suffers from tuberculosis, the disease can be severe and cause various complications. Especially dangerous when tuberculosis is affected by babies who are not yet two years old - in this case the probability of spreading the disease to the whole organism is higher. In older children, immunity is stronger, so the disease usually affects only the lungs and does not affect other areas of the body. Conditions conducive to infection with tuberculosis, in addition to weakened immunity, are eating disorders, poor living conditions, beriberi, frequent overwork.

Tuberculosis in the child: symptoms

Depending on the location of the infection and the form of the disease, the symptoms will also differ. When pulmonary tuberculosis develops, the cough does not stop for a long time in children, there is an increased temperature for no apparent reason, there is a decrease in attention, loss of appetite, fatigue, and a decrease in interest in learning. If there is tuberculous meningitis or miliary tuberculosis, there will be more pronounced signs of intoxication: high fever, shortness of breath, impaired consciousness. Parents often take symptoms that cause tuberculosis in the child, for signs of ARVI or bronchitis. Note that with tuberculosis, fever and cough persist for a long time.

Tuberculosis in the child: diagnosis

At school, all children are periodically made a skin test for tuberculosis - Mantoux. If she gave a bad reaction, the child is referred to a doctor. If you yourself noticed that your child has suspicious symptoms, also do not delay the trip to the doctor. The specialist will conduct an external examination and, if suspected, prescribe the child to carry out such studies as lung X-rays and examination of coughing up under the microscope. Based on the results obtained, you can put an accurate diagnosis and, if necessary, begin urgent treatment.

Tuberculosis in the child: treatment

There are no particular differences in the treatment of this disease in adults and children. Schemes and drugs in the course of therapy are used the same. The child will be prescribed the so-called tuberculostatics. Prepare for the fact that the therapy will be long - it can last from six months or more. Nevertheless, in most cases, small patients are treated fairly well. After the termination of a medical course it is necessary to go with the child to the sanatorium located in a dry climate.