Tuberculosis (pediatrics)

Tuberculosis (TB; TBC in Czech) is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It affects mostly the lungs, extrapulmonary forms are less common and can affect any organ. Due to high vaccination rate of the Czech population the overall presence of TB is very low and extrapulmonary forms are rather exceptional. Higher rates of TB infection are notable among the elderly, the homeless, people addicted to alcohol or other addictive substances, the underprivileged and the immigrants. The diagnosis of TB is based on positive epidemiological anamnesis, chest X-ray, tuberculin test, bacteriological proof, biopsy and histological testing, and auxilliary examination methods. A combination of antibiotics is used as a treatment, which lasts at least 9 months. In the Czech republic, a vaccine is available, although it is not a part of the obligatory vaccination program.