Advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis in children

Abstract

Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health threat and is one of the top ten causes of death in children. There are a number of diagnostic, treatment, and preventive innovations that have been developed in the last decade for TB, however, these are out of reach for many children in the world. Areas covered: A comprehensive review of the literature on TB in children was done using PubMed and Ovid databases from 1 January 1996 up to 31 October 2018. Topic areas covered included diagnosis of TB, treatment of TB (including novel medications and regimens), prevention of DR-TB, and support to achieve the best possible outcomes. Each of these areas are explored in more detail in the paper. Expert commentary: There is great potential for radical changes in the way all forms of TB are diagnosed, treated and prevented in children. If there is continued advocacy and adequate funding and accountability, it could be possible to make great strides toward eliminating TB in children in the next ten years.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; children; diagnosis; prevention; treatment.