Managing latent tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis in children

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this review is to describe the management of the child with TB and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). To develop this article, a working group reviewed relevant epidemiological and other scientific studies and established practices in conducting LBTI and TB in children. The article describes how to manage the child with LTBI, considering transmission and infectiousness of tuberculosis, contact screening and prioritization of contacts and recommendations on treatment of children with LTBI and how to manage the child with TB considering the susceptibility of children to developing tuberculosis, epidemiology and classification of tuberculosis in children, diagnosis and treatment.

Sensitivity and characteristics associated with positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold-Plus assay in children with confirmed tuberculosis

“…Obtaining a definitive TB diagnosis in children is challenging for clinicians due to the lack of specific signs and symptoms consistent with TB, difficulty in obtaining sputum samples in children and the paucibacillary nature of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ) in the clinical specimens [5]. Additionally, treating childhood TB is hindered by the unavailability of pediatric formulations, drug toxicity, and treatment compliance [6–8]. Therefore, early detection and treatment of tuberculosis infection (TBI) to prevent the development of TB disease in children are important strategies to achieve TB elimination goals [9–11].…”

Interferon Gamma Release Assay After BCG Vaccination Among Newborns and Family Members Living in an Overcrowded Area in Jakarta, Indonesia

“…This depends on various factors, such as the proximity of contact with the index case, the MTB virulence, the environmental conditions of the house, which include solar radiation and air circulation as well as several other factors. [5] It is therefore important to detect LTBI cases and treat them early. Previously, TST was used to screen TB in adolescents, who have contact with TB patients.…”

“…LTBI treatment requires a long period of therapy, for example, Isoniazid (INH) needs to be given for 6 or 9 months. [5] Interestingly, the population in Indonesia are predominantly intermediate acetylators. [19] Therefore, drug induced liver intoxication should be considered when giving positive IGRA individuals a long period of INH [20] and adherence as well as compliance, need to be well monitored.…”

“…[4] They may later serve as a reservoir for future transmission. [5] Recently, interferon gamma release assays (IGRA) has been proposed to detect latent TB infection next to tuberculin skin test (TST). The latent infection of MTB is de ned by a positive result of IGRA or TST in the absence of active TB.…”

Tuberculosis and its future in the COVID-19 era: The Pulmonology series 2021

“…Pulmonology tuberculosis (TB) 2018 series was very successful and highly cited, 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 contributing to the journal’s Impact Factor (which increased from 2.096 to 2.778, and moving it into the second quartile of Respiratory Medicine journals) ( Table 1 ). The topics covered ranged from state-of-the-art review on new points of care diagnostic tests, 4 to the new drugs pipeline, 5 while discussing important clinical issues like management of TB in children 7 or how to manage comorbidities and social determinant of TB. 8 …”