It is estimated that childhood TB cases constitute 9%–12% of all TB cases. Children are more vulnerable than adults and require special attention and care. Compared to adults, children are at increased risk of progression from primary TB infection to disease. They are therefore an important target group for preventive treatment. WHO recommends managing all children in line with the Stop TB Strategy.
Diagnosis of TB is often more complex in children than in adults, as children cannot produce sputum easily and more frequently develop extrapulmonary TB, which requires specialist consultation. Children are more vulnerable to TB meningitis and miliary TB, two forms of extrapulmonary TB, which are more difficult to treat than pulmonary TB and are associated with medical complications.
Children are often in close contact with adults. They should be targeted for TB contact investigation to rule out TB disease and for TB preventive measures, where applicable, to protect them from developing TB.
It is important that basic tools for childhood TB diagnosis are available, including chest X-ray and tuberculin skin tests. In very resource-restrained settings, the use of clinical algorithms for diagnosis of childhood TB is of particular importance.
TB specialists should cooperate closely with paediatricians, primary health care doctors and other specialist doctors to ensure the best possible treatment and care of TB in children. Special attention is needed for children coinfected with TB and HIV/AIDS and for children infected with drug-resistant TB.
The role of the regional Stop TB programme is to:
contribute to policy development and refinement related to childhood TB
contribute to formulation and review of childhood TB components of national TB control guidelines
strengthen collaboration with partners working in relevant fields such as HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and immunization
promote and foster research on childhood TB.
Childhood tuberculosis
It is estimated that childhood TB cases constitute 9%–12% of all TB cases. Children are more vulnerable than adults and require special attention and care. Compared to adults, children are at increased risk of progression from primary TB infection to disease. They are therefore an important target group for preventive treatment. WHO recommends managing all children in line with the Stop TB Strategy.
Diagnosis of TB is often more complex in children than in adults, as children cannot produce sputum easily and more frequently develop extrapulmonary TB, which requires specialist consultation. Children are more vulnerable to TB meningitis and miliary TB, two forms of extrapulmonary TB, which are more difficult to treat than pulmonary TB and are associated with medical complications.
Children are often in close contact with adults. They should be targeted for TB contact investigation to rule out TB disease and for TB preventive measures, where applicable, to protect them from developing TB.
It is important that basic tools for childhood TB diagnosis are available, including chest X-ray and tuberculin skin tests. In very resource-restrained settings, the use of clinical algorithms for diagnosis of childhood TB is of particular importance.
TB specialists should cooperate closely with paediatricians, primary health care doctors and other specialist doctors to ensure the best possible treatment and care of TB in children. Special attention is needed for children coinfected with TB and HIV/AIDS and for children infected with drug-resistant TB.
The role of the regional Stop TB programme is to:
contribute to policy development and refinement related to childhood TB
contribute to formulation and review of childhood TB components of national TB control guidelines
strengthen collaboration with partners working in relevant fields such as HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and immunization
promote and foster research on childhood TB.
Childhood tuberculosis
