title: Implementation of isoniazid preventive therapy in children aged under 5 years exposed to tuberculosis in Benin.
abstract: Two large tuberculosis (TB) centres under a well-functioning National TB Programme (NTP) in Benin, West Africa.
  
  
  
  To assess the feasibility and results of integrating a programme of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) in children aged <5 years exposed to TB as part of the existing routine activities of the NTP.
  
  
  
  All children aged <5 years living in the household of a patient with smear-positive pulmonary TB were examined by a doctor and received IPT if no evidence of TB was detected. The children were followed clinically by a nurse for 6 months.
  
  
  
  From January 2013 to June 2014, 496 children were examined and prescribed IPT among 499 notified contacts; 86% adhered to IPT for at least 6 months. There were six deaths and three cases of active TB among the children, all during the first 3 months of follow-up.
  
  
  
  In an African country with moderate TB incidence and a well-functioning NTP, the integration of IPT into the NTP for children aged <5 years exposed to TB in the family was feasible based on simple tools associated with the follow-up of index cases. The rate of adherence to IPT was high.
authors.affiliation: Centre National Hospitalier de Pneumo-Phtisiologie, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adjobimey
authors.affiliation: Service de la Santé Publique, Vaud, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Masserey
authors.affiliation: Centre National Hospitalier de Pneumo-Phtisiologie, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adjonou
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier de Pneumo-Phtisiologie Akron, Benin.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gbénagnon
authors.affiliation: The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schwoebel
authors.affiliation: Centre National Hospitalier de Pneumo-Phtisiologie, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anagonou
authors.affiliation: Swiss Lung Association, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zellweger
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001541:Benin / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011322:Primary Prevention; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid