Pediatric tuberculosis: global overview and challenges

Area of Science:

• Pediatric infectious diseases
• Global child health
• Tuberculosis research

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death in children globally, disproportionately affecting them despite its prevalence.
• Children with TB are often marginalized in national health programs, receiving inadequate attention and resources.
• Existing diagnostic tools and treatments for TB have not been adequately adapted or validated for pediatric use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical neglect of pediatric tuberculosis in global health initiatives.
• To identify key research gaps in pediatric TB diagnostics, treatment, and prevention.
• To emphasize the need for multicenter trials to advance pediatric TB care.

Main Methods:

• Review of current challenges in pediatric TB diagnosis and treatment.
• Analysis of the status of pediatric drug formulations and vaccine efficacy.
• Examination of complexities in managing HIV-coinfected children with TB.

Main Results:

• Diagnostic advancements for adult TB are not validated in children.
• Development of pediatric TB drugs and formulations is significantly lagging.
• Optimal management strategies for HIV-coinfected children with TB require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Multicenter trials are essential to develop improved diagnostic strategies for pediatric TB.
• There is an urgent need for shorter, safer, and more effective treatment regimens for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB in children.
• Further research is required to optimize TB prevention and treatment in vulnerable pediatric populations, including those coinfected with HIV.