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Examining 261 cases of active forms of tuberculosis in children and adolescents in the Samara Region in 1996 to 2004 indicated that 115 (44.1%) had earlier received chemoprophylaxis in the outpatient setting. The specific features of tuberculosis were revealed in this group of patients as compared with the children and adolescents who had never been treated with antituberculous drugs (n = 146): there was a predominance of preschool children; severe, disseminated forms of tuberculosis, detectable from complaints were observed less frequently; clinically cured pulmonary tuberculosis was more frequently characterized by residual posttuberculous changes. Outpatient chemoprophylaxis reduces the severity of the disease, but is not always effective in preventing tuberculosis.

Examination of 296 cases of active forms of tuberculosis in children showed various age-dependent antituberculous measures. 14.8% of the children less than 3 years of age had not been vaccinated against tuberculosis; 19.8% had earlier received chemoprophylaxis; and contact with patients with tuberculosis was detected more frequently (70.4%). Against this background, tuberculosis in infancy was more commonly identified from complaints (48.1%) and less frequently at mass tuberculin diagnosis (19.8%); the generalized forms of the disease and complicated tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes were more frequently found (16% and 24.7%), a fatal outcome was oftener observed (7.4%). The secondary forms of tuberculosis were revealed in 23.8% of schoolchildren. Overall, the mean size of a papule emerging from the Mantoux test was 12.8 +/- 0.37 mm at the detection of tuberculosis.

To study whether Diaskintest might be used as a criterion for the activity of local tuberculous changes in children and adolescents, the authors examined three groups of patients aged 0 to 17 years: 1) 20 patients with new-onset tuberculosis in the progression phase; 2) 25 patients with new-onset tuberculosis in the regression phase with the signs of consolidation and calcification; 3) 18 tuberculosis dispensary Group IIIB patients who received the basic course of therapy and had residual posttuberculous changes as calcinates and compact foci. Group 3 was found to greatly differ from Groups 1 and 2 in the lower rates of positive reactions, the higher rate of negative reactions, and smaller papulae while the Mantoux test with 2 TE indicated that in Group 3, the papulae were smaller than those in Group 2. Responses to the Diaskintest test versus the Mantoux 2TE test were significantly more pronounced in patients with progressive tuberculosis and less marked in dispensary Group IIB patients who received the basic course of antituberculous therapy. Diaskintest was ascertained to be used in the complex examination of children and adolescents as a criterion for the activity of tuberculous changes in order to choose the tactics of treatment and follow-up of children and adolescents. The application of Diaskintest will allow more objective formation of dispensary Group IIIA of children served by a local phthisiatrician.

A group of 64 children with monotonous tuberculin sensitivity was analyzed. Intrathoracic lymph nodal tuberculosis (ITLNT) was revealed in 26 (41%) children. The remaining 38 (59% children with tuberculosis infection received a course of preventive treatment by taking into account the presence of risk factors. After tuberculosis treatment in children with ITLNT and tuberculous infection, papules due to Mantoux test significantly reduced in size.

Trends in RM with 2 TU PPD-L were analysed in 71 children at the time of detection of tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes (TITLN). The disease is often diagnosed in children getting infected with tuberculosis infection. Monotonous tuberculin tests represent the most frequent variant of tuberculin allergy at the time of TITLN diagnosis in children. Careful follow-up of children with monotonous RM (2 TU) may improve TITLN outcomes.

Fifty one children with tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes were examined to define an association of the severity and extent of damage with age. This type of tuberculosis that occurs in babies runs with complications. It is more frequently detected in children under 3 years on their referral to pediatricians. In school-age children, this tuberculosis is accompanied by the involvement of a group of intrathoracic lymph nodes and diagnosed more frequently in the phase of early calcification.