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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

System for Efficacy and Cytotoxicity Screening of Inhibitors Targeting Intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Published on: April 5, 2017
[Screening of children residing in the same household as patients with contagious tuberculosis]
N Adrouche1, V Bunger1, C Ribet2
1Centre de lutte antituberculeuse de Nice, hôpital Pasteur, 30, voie Romaine, 06000 Nice, France.
Insights
Children living with tuberculosis patients face high risks. Screenings revealed 20% active TB disease and 35% latent TB infection (LTBI) in household contacts, highlighting the need for vigilance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Introduction:
Children are particularly vulnerable to tuberculosis. We report on the results of screenings conducted among children residing in tuberculosis patients' households.
Materials And Methods:
This was a retrospective study conducted at the Alpes-Maritimes tuberculosis control centre between January 2023 and December 2025.
Results:
During this period, 60 children were screened across 36 different contact investigations. All of them shared a household with the index case (IC). Median age was 8 years, with 27 boys and 33 girls. Among the 60 children, screening identified 12 (20%) cases of active tuberculosis (TB disease) and 21 (35%) cases of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Risk factors (P<0.05) for TB disease were age<5 years and sleeping in the same room as the IC. Risk factors (P<0.05) for LTBI were a positive sputum smear and/or cavitation in the IC, and another case of TB disease or LTBI within the household.
Conclusion:
Children residing in the same household as patients with contagious pulmonary tuberculosis bear a substantial burden regarding this contagious disease.
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