Tygerberg score

Tygerberg score is a clinical scoring system used to predict the likelihood of tuberculosis (TB) in children. It was developed at the Tygerberg Hospital in South Africa, a country with a high incidence of TB. The score is based on a combination of clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings.

Overview

The Tygerberg score is a tool used to assist in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children. It was developed in response to the challenges of diagnosing TB in children, which can often present differently than in adults. The score is based on a combination of clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings, and is used to predict the likelihood of a child having TB.

Scoring System

The Tygerberg score consists of seven components, each of which is assigned a certain number of points. These components include:

• History of close contact with a TB case
• Chronic symptoms (cough for more than two weeks, unexplained weight loss or failure to thrive, fever for more than two weeks)
• Physical signs (reduced breath sounds, crepitations, wheeze, hepatomegaly)
• Positive tuberculin skin test
• Abnormal chest X-ray suggestive of TB
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) greater than 40 mm/h
• Positive gastric washings for acid-fast bacilli

The total score is calculated by adding up the points for each component. A score of 7 or more is considered suggestive of TB.

Use and Limitations

The Tygerberg score is used in settings where TB is prevalent and resources for diagnostic testing are limited. It is a useful tool for identifying children who are likely to have TB and who should therefore be started on treatment.

However, the score has limitations. It is less accurate in diagnosing TB in children who are HIV positive, and it may not be as useful in settings where TB is less common. Furthermore, the score does not replace the need for definitive diagnostic testing where available.

See Also

• Tuberculosis
• Tuberculosis diagnosis
• Tuberculosis in children
• Tygerberg Hospital

References

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