Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem, despite noteworthy socioeconomic development and advances in medical science. Globally it has been estimated that 1.9 billion people (1/3 of world’s population ) are infected and 5000 people die of Tb Globally each day. Out of which 95% are in the developing world. In India 1.8 million new cases annually accounting for one fifth of new cases. Two of every 5 persons (>400 million) in general population have latent tuberculosis. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at our tertiary care hospital over a period of 11 months. Children in the age group from 2 months to 12 years attending the Outpatient Department, admitted in the wards and PICU. Results: Study was done on 120 patients. Maximum number of cases were in the 1 to 5 years age group 35(41.34%), 23(27.88%) were in 6 to 10 years age group, 14(17.34%)
were under I year and 12(13.46%) were in the age group 11 to 12 years. Most of the cases 48(57.6%) belonged to low SES. 19(22.11%) cases revealed positive history of contact with adult case of tuberculosis. The present study shows predominant symptoms of presentation are Fever 78(65.38%) and cough 70 (58.65%). One third had weight loss or poor weight gain, Significant lymphadenopathy was observed in 32(26.92%).67(55.76%) has protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and 53(44.23%) cases had normal nutritional status. Conclusion: Maximum number of cases were in the 1 to 5 years age group 35 (41.34%). For each new cases of childhood Tb detected, the possibility of open adult contact is 22.11%. Our study reveals that protective benefit of BCG vaccine against the dissemination of tuberculosis in children is possible only if they have normal nutrition and favourable socioeconomic conditions.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; BCG; Socioeconomic status; Nutrition.