Tuberculosis treatment default among Brazilian children.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence and time of tuberculosis (TB) treatment default among children and to compare defaulters with those who completed treatment.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort study at the Hospital Municipal Jesus, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, among TB patients aged <15 years followed from 1998 to 2002. The group that completed treatment was compared with those that defaulted.

RESULTS: The records of 248 patients were studied. The default rate was 24.2% and was more frequent in the first 2 months of treatment (43.3%) and among those aged <1 year (42.4%). The following variables were associated with default: previous default (relative risk [RR] 1.99, 95%CI 1.12-3.54, P = 0.035), father not living with the child (RR 1.85, 95%CI 1.06-3.21, P = 0.030) and father using illicit drugs (RR 2.93, 95%CI 1.44-5.97, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals responsible for treating children with TB should pay special attention to children aged <1 year, those with a history of previous default, and those whose father is absent or an illicit drug user.