Disseminated tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis in Australian-born children; case reports and review of current epidemiology and management

We present two cases of tuberculous meningitis in Australian-born children. We review the current literature surrounding management of paediatric tuberculosis and disseminated disease, emphasising the importance of prompt diagnosis and intervention. We discuss the epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Australian paediatric population and highlight the sentinel role of childhood infection in public health surveillance.

Hearing impaired neonate: role of the paediatrician

Electrophysiological screening of the hearing of newborn infants has demonstrated that hearing impaired infants can be successfully detected soon after birth.(1) There is much evidence to support the belief that the early fitting of hearing aids when needed (at less than 6 months of age) and guided early language stimulation can result in good outcomes in the language of deaf children.(2,3) The paediatrician and family doctor play key roles in ensuring these outcomes.