Basic and Clinical Sciences (BCSE) Practice Exam

The most commonly utilized diagnostic method for childhood tuberculosis (TB) is the chest X-ray (CXR). This imaging technique is essential because children with TB often present with respiratory symptoms, and a chest X-ray can reveal characteristic findings associated with pulmonary TB, such as areas of consolidation, effusions, or miliary patterns. In children, the clinical presentation of TB may be atypical, and they may not always produce sputum for analysis. Therefore, CXR serves as an important initial step in the diagnostic process, allowing clinicians to visualize lung pathology that might not otherwise be detected through other methods. Other diagnostic methods may be considered in specific circumstances but are not as commonly employed as CXR. For instance, blood cultures can be used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis but are less specific and sensitive, particularly in children. A booklet survey is not a recognized diagnostic tool for TB but may refer to screening questionnaires, which are not definitive. Urine tests can be useful in some cases, particularly for detecting extrapulmonary TB but are not standard for diagnosing pulmonary TB in children. Thus, the chest X-ray remains the cornerstone in the diagnostic evaluation of childhood TB.