Abstract

The problem of diagnostic errors of pediatric TB persists throughout the world and in the Republic of Moldova, the main causes being the peculiarities of evolution and polymorphism of the clinical manifestations of primary TB. The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the detection of TB in children, underdiagnosis conditioned by limiting access to medical services.Studying the causes of errors in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children during the COVID-19 pandemics.60 cases were evaluated - children diagnosed with TB during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the years 2020-2021, with various errors in the process of TB diagnosis. We found that 33(55%) children were aged 10-15 years, 18(30%) - 6-9 years, 9(15%) - ? 5 years. The passive way of detecting TB was in 35 (58%) cases, 1/4 - transferred from other hospitals and 10% with the first diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Contact TB was elucidated in 44 (73%) cases. The most frequent;?masks?; of TB were: pneumonic - 36 (60%) and ARI - 15 (25%). The clinical form of intrathoracic lymph node TB prevailed - 29(48%),pulmonary TB being in 20(33%) cases, with complications - 18(30%). Tuberculin skin test was positive in 34(57%), including hyperergy in 8(23%). Microbiological confirmation of TB constituted 16 (27%). Treatment for susceptible TB was indicated in 39(65%) cases, and 21(35%) children received treatment for resistant TB. Cases of TB diagnosed in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection were microbiologically confirmed.The causes of errors in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children are: faulty examination of children from the focus of tuberculosis infection, low vigilance in the supervision of children in pandemic COVID 19 conditions.