The following is a summary of “A comparison of chest radiographic findings in human immunodeficiency virus-positive and -negative children with pulmonary tuberculosis,” published in the November 2023 issue of Pediatrics by Buthelezi et al.

This study conducted a retrospective comparative analysis of chest radiography findings in children diagnosed with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), examining their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status. Over five years, 130 children (35 HIV-positive and 95 HIV-negative) with microbiologically confirmed PTB were assessed. The median age was 45.7 months (interquartile range [IQR] 18–81.3 months). CXR changes consistent with PTB were present in 60% of HIV-positive and 62% of HIV-negative patients (p=0.81). The occurrence of normal CXRs did not significantly differ between HIV-positive (8.6%) and HIV-negative patients (5.3%) (p=0.81). 

Airway compression rates were similar: 8.6% in HIV-positive and 7.4% in HIV-negative patients (p>0.99). Lymphadenopathy was observed in 32.3% of cases overall, with comparable rates among HIV-positive (31.4%) and HIV-negative (32.6%) patients. Airspace consolidation was prevalent in 60% of both HIV-positive (21/35) and HIV-negative (57/95) patients. Additionally, pleural effusion rates were 5.7% in HIV-positive and 9.5% in HIV-negative patients. The study found no statistically significant differences in CXR findings based on HIV status among children with confirmed PTB.

Conclusively, this comparative analysis of chest radiographic findings in pediatric patients with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis demonstrated a lack of statistically significant differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. The study suggests a similar prevalence of PTB-related radiological manifestations irrespective of HIV status among the pediatric population.

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0009926023005214