Tuberculosis in childhood occurs with
different manifestations. All these forms of
tuberculosis, except when cavitation occurs
in pulmonary tuberculosis, are paucibacillary
in nature. For this reason, even though at the
present time bacteriological confirmation is
still the final proof of tuberculous disease, it
is difficult to obtain. Depending on the form
of disease manifestation, several specimens
like sputum and/or gastric lavage, as children
are often unable to produce sputum,
lymphnodes and other biopsy specimens,
pus, ascitic fluid, pleural or cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) need to be collected. If delay is
anticipated, biopsy specimens may be
collected in suitable transport medium for
sending it to laboratory
