EN
Children bear a substantial part of the tuberculosis
(TB) epidemic worldwide, and it is estimated that
there were ≅ 500.000 childhood TB cases globally in 2010,
although accurate data are problematic to obtain given
the many difficulties associated with TB diagnosis in children
and the weaknesses of surveillance systems in countries
where TB is endemic. The World Health Organization
is working hard in order to reduce the TB prevalence rates
and deaths by half by 2015. In this challenge, general
practitioners and pediatricians play a key role in detecting
early cases of suspected TB and sending them to experts
in infectious diseases. This will reduce delayed diagnosis
and the spread of disease, which is especially important
now that the prevalence of multidrug resistant TB is
increasing. For this reason, the purpose of this report was
to delineate the characteristic clinical features of the most
common forms of pediatric TB and to suggest a rational
and practical approach to the disease underlining the role
of patients and parents personal and clinical history.