Perinatal tuberculosis (tb)

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Tuberculosis can be acquired during the perinatal period. Symptoms and signs are nonspecific. Diagnosis is by culture and sometimes x-ray and biopsy. Treatment is with isoniazid and other antituberculous drugs.
(See also Tuberculosis (TB) in adults and Overview of Neonatal Infections.)
Infants may acquire tuberculosis (TB) by the following means:

Transplacental spread through the umbilical vein to the fetal liver
Aspiration or ingestion of infected amniotic fluid
Airborne inoculation from close contacts (family members or nursery personnel)

About 50% of children born to mothers with active pulmonary tuberculosis develop the disease during the first year of life if chemoprophylaxis or bacille Calmette-Gu#233;rin (BCG) vaccine is not given.