Childhood tuberculosis and factors associated with mortality and loss to follow-up at a major paediatric treatment centre in Southern Ghana

INTRODUCTION: tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low- and middle-income countries. This study described the clinical presentation and identified factors contributing to poor outcome of childhood TB at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra, Ghana. METHODS: this was a retrospective cohort study of children aged ≤ 14 years with TB registered for treatment at KBTH from 2015 to 2019. Treatment outcomes were recorded as treatment success and unsuccessful outcomes (died and loss to follow-up). Multivariable logistics regression was conducted to assess factors associated with an unsuccessful outcome. RESULTS: of 407 children with TB registered during the period, 269 (66.1%) patients had pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Of the 138 patients with extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB), 68 (49.3%) had TB lymphadenitis. The TB/HIV coinfection rate was 42.8%. The overall treatment success rate was 68.3%, whilst 71(17.4%) died, and 58 (14.3%) were lost to follow-up. Factors associated with death were age below 1 year (AOR: 3.46, 95% CI: 1.48-8.10, p=0.004) and having HIV coinfection (AOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.04-3.43, p=0.037). Factors associated with loss to follow-up were age below 1 year (AOR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.12-8.59, p=0.029) and having EPTB (AOR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.24-4.65, p=0.009). CONCLUSION: childhood TB treatment success in our population was below the national target of 85%, with high mortality and loss to follow-up rates, especially in younger children and those with HIV coinfection or EPTB. Tailored treatment strategies may be needed for children at risk of unsuccessful treatment outcome, especially among infants.