Short-course chemotherapy for paediatric respiratory tuberculosis: 5-year report.

Swaminathan, S.; Raghavan, A.; Duraipandian, M.; Kripasankar, A.S.; Ramachandran, P.

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease; 2005; 9; 693-696.

Summary: This report presents the 5-year follow-up of 137 children with respiratory tuberculosis enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of two different anti-tuberculosis regimens 9HR and 2HRZ 3 /4RH 2 . Both regimens had similar cure rates, with low relapse rates and mortality. Of 134 children followed up to 5 years, 86% had normal radiographs, with more sequelae in the 9HR group (15% vs. 1.5%, P < 0.01). One patient relapsed and there was one accidental death. Short-course chemotherapy in children is safe, effective and well tolerated, and leads to excellent long-term results, with a small proportion of children left with radiological sequelae.

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