Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Children: A Tertiary Hospital Experience

Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), a member of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, can cause tuberculosis in both adults and children. Our study aimed to identify the clinical and laboratory features of children with M. bovis infection. This retrospective descriptive study sampled a cohort of consecutive cases diagnosed as M. bovis infection by culture positivity from October 2013 through May 2023. Epidemiological data were obtained on gender, age, region of residence, clinical signs, exposure, treatment, and outcome. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. M. bovis was found to be the causative agent in seven of 25 patients with culture-confirmed tuberculosis, but M. bovis mostly caused extrapulmonary disease, the most frequent clinical form being cervical lymphadenitis. The most common symptoms were fever and neck swelling. No resistance was detected, except to pyrazinamide, in the strains. M. bovis has a significant disease burden in children. Advanced typing is recommended for M. tuberculosis complex culture positivity to determine the appropriate treatment regimen.