The value of nasopharyngeal aspirate, gastric aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis

Abstract

Çakır E, Özdemir A, Daşkaya H, Umutoğlu T, Yüksel M. The valueof nasopharyngeal aspirate, gastric aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage fluidin the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 10-13.Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of morbidity and mortalityespecially in developing countries. A definitive microbiologic confirmation ofMycobacterium tuberculosis is important in the diagnosis of childhood TB. Weaimed to compare the diagnostic value of nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA),gastric aspirate (GA) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens in childrenwith highly suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). NPA, GA and BAL sampleswere obtained from forty patients. The mean age was 9.2±4.7 years. Sixtyeight percent of children had a history of household contact and 82% hadtuberculin skin test positivity. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain was positive in22.5% (N=9) of BAL, 17.5% (N=7) of GA, and 10% (N=4) of NPA samples.Positive Lowenstein-Jensen culture was 27.5% (N=11) in BAL, 22.5% (N=9)in GA, and 12.5% (N=5) in NPA samples. Positive AFB stains and growthin TB cultures from BAL fluid and GA samples were both higher than NPAsamples (p