Aims: To study the prevalence of tuberculosis infection among children in hous ehold contact with adults having pulmonary tuberculosis, and identify the possib le risk factors. Methods: Children under the age of 5 years who were in househol d contact with 200 consecutive adults with pulmonary tuberculosis underwent tube rculin skin testing. Transverse induration of greater than 10 mm was defined as positive tuberculin test suggestive of tubercular infection. Infected children u nderwent chest radiography and analysis of gastric lavage fluid or induced sputu m for detection of acid fast bacilli. Results: Tuberculin test was positive in 9 5 of 281 contacts (33.8%), of which 65 were contacts of sputum positive patient s, while 30 were contacts of sputum negative patients. Nine of these children we re diagnosed as having tuberculosis based on clinical features and/or recovery o f acid fast bacilli; seven were in contact with sputum positive adults. The impo rtant risk factors for transmission of infection were younger age, severe malnut rition, absence of BCG vaccination, contact with an adult who was sputum positiv e, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Conclusion: The prevalence of tu berculosis infection and clinical disease among children in household contact wi th adult patients is higher than in the general population, and risk is signific antly increased by contact with sputum positive adults. Aims: To study the prevalence of tuberculosis infection among children in hous ehold contact with adults having pulmonary tuberculosis, and identify the possibile risk factors. Methods: Children under the age of 5 years who were in househol d contact with 200 consecutive adults with pulmonary Tuberculosis underwent tube rculin skin testing. Transverse induration of greater than 10 mm was defined as positive tuberculin test suggestive of tubercular infection. Infected children u nderwent chest radiography and analysis of gastric lavage fluid or induced sputum m for detection of acid fast bacilli. Results: Nine of the children were re-established as having tuberculosis based on clinical features and / or recovery of acid fast bacilli; seven were in contact with sputum positive adults. The impo rtant risk factors for transmiss ion of infection were younger age, severe malnut rition, absence of BCG vaccination, contact with an adult who was sputum positiv e, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Conclusion: The prevalence of tu berculosis infection and clinical disease among children in household contact wi th adult patients is higher than in the general population, and risk is significally a contact increased with contact with sputum positive adults.