title: Screening childhood contacts of patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Malawi.
abstract: A survey was conducted by the National Tuberculosis Programme in 44 Malawian hospitals on screening young children aged 5 years or less in households of adults diagnosed with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Of 659 hospitalised adult patients, 267 (41%) had a total of 365 young children; 56 (21%) adult patients had been informed about childhood screening, and in 31 (12%) some of their children were screened. Of the 365 young children, 33 (9%) were screened for TB--23 received isoniazid preventive therapy, six received anti-tuberculosis treatment, and in four no action was taken. Steps are needed to improve childhood screening procedures.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N J M
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Claessens
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Gausi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meijnen
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Weismuller
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salaniponi
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid