Burden of Childhood Tuberculosis and Treatment Outcomes at a Tertiary Hospital in Kano State, North West Nigeria

Tuberculosis (TB) in children is frequently underdiagnosed due to non-specific clinical presentations and limited diagnostic capacity in resource-constrained settings. This retrospective descriptive study examines the burden, clinical features, and treatment outcomes of childhood tuberculosis at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano State, North West Nigeria, over a four-year period from 2020 to 2023. Medical records and TB register entries for 142 children aged one month to 15 years diagnosed with TB were reviewed. Variables extracted included age, sex, nutritional status, HIV co-infection status, type of TB, treatment regimen, and treatment outcome. Pulmonary TB accounted for 71.8% of cases, with extrapulmonary TB representing 28.2%. Bacteriological confirmation was achieved in only 34.5% of cases, highlighting diagnostic challenges. HIV co-infection was documented in 18.3% of children and was associated with higher mortality. Treatment success rate was 68.3%, below the WHO target of 90%. Default from treatment was recorded in 14.1% of cases, primarily attributed to caregiver non-adherence and drug stockouts. Severe malnutrition was present in 41.5% of TB cases at diagnosis. The findings underscore the interplay between malnutrition, HIV, and paediatric TB in northern Nigeria. Recommendations include expanding GeneXpert diagnostic services, strengthening TB-HIV integration, and implementing community-based treatment support. Keywords: childhood tuberculosis, treatment outcomes, Kano State, HIV co-infection, North West Nigeria.