Abstract
SETTING
All hospitals and health centres under the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP) in Bhutan.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the number and proportion of childhood tuberculosis (TB) cases registered under the NTCP in 2010, their demographic and clinical characteristics and any associations with treatment outcomes.
DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study involving a review of TB treatment cards and registers.
RESULTS
Of 1332 TB cases registered, 187 (14%) were children aged <15 years, 75 (40%) were aged <5 years, and 180 (96%) were new cases; nearly half were extra-pulmonary TB, with lymphadenitis being the most common form. The overall treatment success rate was 93%, and none of the demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with treatment outcomes. A few recording deficiencies were identified.
CONCLUSION
TB in children is well recognised in Bhutan, and their treatment outcomes were excellent.
