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Baseline Assessment of Risk Factors of Presumptive Tuberculosis among under Five Children Living with an Index Client
Rosemary Tumusiime1, Charles Mukasa1, Agatha K Kisakya-Maria1
1Department of Community and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, P.O.Box, 1460, Mbale, Uganda.
Insights
Contact tracing for children exposed to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is crucial for early detection. Poorly ventilated housing was a significant risk factor for presumptive TB in young children in Uganda.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Public health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Children exposed to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) are at high risk of infection.
- Effective contact tracing and screening are vital for early TB detection in vulnerable populations.
- Limited data exists on TB transmission prevalence and risk factors among child contacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of TB infection among children under five years old.
- To identify risk factors associated with TB transmission in household contacts of adult pulmonary TB patients.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mbale District, Uganda.
- Household contacts under five years old of adult pulmonary TB patients were identified and screened.
- Data on demographics, TB, and HIV status were collected using questionnaires and case-finding forms.
Main Results:
- 33 child contacts were identified from 21 index TB cases.
- 9 out of 33 children (27.27%) presented as presumptive TB cases.
- Poorly ventilated housing was identified as a significant risk factor, with 77.8% of presumptive cases living in such conditions.
Conclusions:
- The study identified presumptive TB cases and key risk factors for transmission among child contacts.
- Intensified contact tracing strategies can help reduce TB transmission in communities.
- Further research is recommended to improve contact tracing and mitigate identified risk factors.
Background And Aims:
Children in contact with adults having pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) are vulnerable to TB infection and hence contact tracing and screening is important for early detection of infection. However, there are few contacts traced and the prevalence and risk factors for transmission are not well studied. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection and risk factors associated with TB transmission among under five children in household contact with adult pulmonary TB patients.
Materials And Methods:
A cross sectional study was carried out in three health facilities with a high TB burden in Mbale District, Eastern Uganda involving all under five household contacts of adults with pulmonary tuberculosis recorded in the TB register from October 2018 to March 2019 and still on treatment. Structured questionnaires were administered to the index clients to obtain their demographic and clinical data about TB, HIV as well as information on the children. Children were screened using the intensive case finding forms to identify presumptive cases.
Results:
The total number of index TB Clients line listed were 70. Number of clients traced was 38, 21 (%) of whom had children under five years and a total of 33 children were identified. The number of presumptive cases was 9/33 (27.27%). 77.8% of the presumptive cases were living in poorly ventilated houses.
Conclusion:
The study identified children with presumptive TB and various risk factors for TB transmission. Intensive contact tracing can therefore help reduce TB transmission within the communities. It is recommended to undertake studies aiming at improving contact tracing and strategies to eliminate the risk factors to TB transmission.
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