Online Reporter
Health Desk
Tuberculosis (TB) isn’t just an adult disease – it tragically affects young children too. Due to their developing immune systems, children are especially vulnerable to severe forms of TB, which can be difficult to diagnose and devastating if left untreated.
What you need to know
Symptoms can be subtle: Persistent cough, fever, weight loss, or reduced playfulness are red flags.
Getting a specimen for TB testing is more difficult in a child, who is likely to swallow their sputum. If one does get a specimen, sometimes the result may come back negative, not because they don’t have TB, but because of how TB typically presents in a child, whose immune system is not yet well developed.
Although sputum is the best specimen for testing for TB, other specimens such as gastric washings and stool can be used in children under the age of 5 years.
Its benefit include the fact that stool has some reasonable and acceptable WHO-approved diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) in children; it is easy to collect without special clinical expertise needed; and the stool sample can now be processed using a simple one-step (SOS) method and tested using the same GeneXpert platform, just like sputum.
Early diagnosis is crucial: If you suspect TB, seek medical attention immediately.
Prevention is key: Ensure children in your care are vaccinated (BCG, where available) and minimise their exposure to adults with active TB.
Treatment saves lives: TB in children is curable with proper medication.
Let’s work together to eliminate #TB in children and secure a healthier future for our next generation.
Source- The Union Zimbabwe Trust
#YesWeCanEndTB
Colletta Dube