World Tuberculosis Day: TB and children
Very young children are more likely than older children to have TB spread through their bloodstream and cause complications.
World Tuberculosis Day, which is commemorated annually on 24 March, is intended to raise public awareness about the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic and efforts to eradicate the illness.
Fortunately, children with TB rarely die when they receive standard treatment for the disease. Tragically, 90% of children sick with TB worldwide are left untreated. This widespread neglect means the loss of millions of young lives that could otherwise have been saved.
Tuberculosis in children
TB disease in children under the age of 15 (also known as paediatric tuberculosis) is a significant public health hazard. Babies and young children are more prone to develop life-threatening forms of TB than older children and adults. Children under the age of five and teenagers older than 10 make up the largest percentage of TB cases among children.
Tuberculosis facts
TB is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sings, the TB bacteria are released into the air. Individuals in close proximity may inhale these bacteria and become affected.
Good to know: Not all children who are infected with TB get sick. As a result, two types of tuberculosis exist: latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis infection.
Children with latent TB:
- Usually have a skin or blood test that indicates TB infection
- Possess TB bacteria in their bodies, although the bacteria remain dormant
- Are not ill and exhibit no signs
- Are not capable of transmitting bacteria to others
- Are frequently prescribed medication to prevent the development of tuberculosis disease
If the tuberculosis germs become active and grow in the body, the person develops active TB.
Children with active TB:
- Usually have a skin or blood test that indicates tuberculosis infection;
- Are ill as a result of active tuberculosis bacteria (bacteria that are proliferating and damaging tissue in their bodies);
- Usually have signs consistent with tuberculosis illness; and
- Must receive medication to treat tuberculosis disease.
Once infected with tuberculosis bacteria, children are more prone than adults to develop tuberculosis disease and to do so more rapidly. In comparison to children, adults typically develop tuberculosis as a result of a prior infection that reactivates years later, when a person’s immune system is weakened for some reason (e.g., HIV infection, diabetes).
Tuberculosis Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of TB in children include:
- Cough
- Sensations of ill health or weakness, drowsiness, or diminished liveliness
- Loss of weight or failure to flourish
- Fever
- Sweats during night
Infants, young children, and immunocompromised children are especially at risk of acquiring severe types of TB, such as TB meningitis or disseminated tuberculosis.
Treatment
A paediatric TB expert should be involved in the treatment of TB in children and the management of newborns, young children, and immunocompromised children exposed to someone with infectious TB. It is critical that parents of children being treated for latent or active TB ensure that their children complete their medication and take it exactly as prescribed.
TB prevention
All children receive the BCG vaccine at birth in South Africa. It’s a live vaccine given to stimulate the baby’s immune system to build antibodies to protect against TB. The vaccine is protective against more severe forms of TB (like TB meningitis and TB lymph nodes) but not considered effective against Pulmonary TB. For more information on the TB vaccine, speak to your child’s health care provider or local family clinic.
