Tuberculosis in children undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is increasing worldwide. Due to an impairment of cellular immunity, patients with chronic renal failure are susceptible to reactivation of TB. Seventy patients were treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in our pediatric nephrology department during the years 1989–1997. TB was diagnosed in 4 patients, representing 5.7% of all CAPD patients in our department. One patient had extrapulmonary (TB osteomyelitis) and the others had pulmonary TB. All patients were treated with antituberculous drugs.Two patients with pulmonary TB were cured. Symptoms improved in the other 2 patients but they died at home for unknown reasons. We recommend that all children in regions of high prevalence of TB should be investigated for TB, especially if they have a cough or fever of unknown etiology.