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Performance of a household tuberculosis exposure survey among children in a Latin American setting

J Coit1, M Mendoza2, C Pinedo2

  • 1Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
|November 14, 2019
PubMed

Insights

A new survey effectively measures household tuberculosis (TB) exposure in children. It showed a modest success in predicting TB infection in young children, aiding diagnosis and preventive therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Household contact with infectious tuberculosis (TB) patients is a primary risk factor for childhood TB.
  • Accurate assessment of exposure intensity is crucial for identifying at-risk children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate a novel survey designed to quantify household TB exposure intensity in children.
  • To assess the survey's performance in predicting TB infection.

Main Methods:

  • A 10-question caregiver-administered survey was used in children (0-14 years) with suspected TB and adult TB contact in Lima, Peru.
  • Tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) determined infection status.
  • Mixed-effects regression analyses examined the association between the exposure score and TST positivity.

Main Results:

  • The exposure score significantly correlated with TST positivity (age-adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.14).
  • A stronger association was found in children aged ≤5 years (aOR 1.23) compared to older children (aOR 0.99).

Conclusions:

  • The TB exposure survey is user-friendly and shows modest success in predicting TST positivity in young children (≤5 years).
  • This tool can assist clinicians in diagnosing childhood TB and support national TB programs in expanding preventive therapy.

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