On January 15, 2014, on the initiative of TSMU Department of Pediatrics and the Association of Children and Adult, Prof. Nana Tskhakaia, M.D., Ph.D., delivered the lecture on “Pediatric Tuberculosis”. This is considered as one of the most pressing topic deserving lots of attention of professionals and whole society, therefore the lecture went beyond the narrow scope of the science and acquired great importance for pediatricians in terms of practical activity and increasing quality of awareness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared TB as a global threat - said Prof. Nana Tskhakaia reviewing the topic. In spite of that TB belongs to the untreatable diseases mortality rate might achieve approximately 2 million people a year.

It should be emphasized that the disease is developed only in 10% of infected patients. In 2011, over 1.4 million cases have lethal outcomes,  woroldwide. It is also noteworthy that the 1/4  of HIV/AIDS  patints die of tuberculosis as well.

Prof. Nana Tskhakaia: It is recommended that pediatricians should treat the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis more carefully. This disease is common throughout Georgia. Moreover, Georgia is considered as of the countries of high prevalence.

The country is considered as of low prevelence one if morbidity rate equels to 20 patients of 100000. Last year this rate was equal to 120-125 in Georgia.

So,  giving proper attention to tuberculosis is of great importance.

If a child was affected with this disease, it is clear, infection comes from an adult – i.e.  the child was infected by someone. Even when adult keeps with hygienic standards, at least 10-15 persons might be  infected a year. In most cases, affected children till 12 years of ages are not infection carriers.

It is also noteworthy that in case of child infection the percentage of  disease development is as follows:  

43-50 % - till 1 year

24 % - 1 – 5 years

16 % - 11 – 15 years

Interest of professionals, residents, and students in the topic is natural and motivated as tuberculosis still remains a significant threat for Georgia.

Interesting meeting –lectures – discussions for pediatricians will be continued in future as well. This is the second lecture in the series called as "Pediatricians’ questions" – said  Professor Karaman Pagava, M.D., Ph.D.

The faculties and members of TSMU Department of Pediatrics (Children and Adult direction)   and the Association of Children and Adult planned the series of meetings on the second Wednesdays of every month. The first lecture on Allergic Diseases was delivered by Prof. Michael Lenz. 2014 year was launched by Prof. Nana Tskhakaia, M.D., Ph.D., who delivered the lecture on “Peculiarities of Pediatric Tuberculosis”. The next lecture will be devoted to the news of children nutrition … so, our meetings will be continued.

Our main goal is that pediatricians be able to meet, discuss, exchange experience and to share the news.