Getting it right for children: improving tuberculosis treatment access and new treatment options.
Children were often the forgotten victims of the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, neglected by traditional TB services as well as maternal and child health initiatives. Luckily this is changing with a greater focus on children and the issues regarding their optimal management. A common misconception is that children with TB are always difficult to diagnose and treat. New diagnostic tools are urgently needed, but most children with TB in high-burden settings can be diagnosed with available approaches and treatment outcomes are generally excellent. Increased TB awareness, appropriate training of health care workers and inclusion in integrated management of childhood illness strategies will improve the access and quality of care that children receive. This review highlights what needs to be done to ensure that no child unnecessarily dies from TB and provides a brief overview of new advances in the field.
Medecins Sans Frontieres, Rue de Lausanne 78, P.O Box 116, Geneva, Switzerland.
Grania
G
Brigden
Jennifer
J
Furin
Clara
C
Van Gulik
Ben
B
Marais
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D014943:Global Health; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012293:Rifampin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin; C018421:rifapentine
children; pediatric tuberculosis; prevention; treatment options; tuberculosis