The updated WHO guidelines

Tuberculosis in Children and Adolescents

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted new patient-centered recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The most recent recommendations for the management of tuberculosis in children relate to diagnostic tests which are expanded to include non-invasive specimens, such as stool. There is also the initial test recommended for diagnosing tuberculosis in children and adolescents, which is the rapid molecular diagnosis; the recommended treatment for mild forms of drug-susceptible tuberculosis in children and adolescents is now reduced from six to four months, and that of tuberculous meningitis is reduced from 12 to six months. “This promotes a patient-centered approach that will reduce the costs of TB care for children, adolescents and their families,” notes the WHO.

The World Health Organization reports that two of the newest drugs to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis (bedaquiline and delamanid) are now recommended for children of all ages, so children with this form of disease can benefit from an exclusively oral treatment regimen, regardless of their age. “New models of decentralized and integrated TB care are also recommended, which will enable more children and adolescents to access TB care or preventive treatment closer to where they live. we note in the document.

For the record, tuberculosis remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world. Every day, it claims the lives of more than 4100 patients and nearly 30,000 people develop this disease which can be prevented and cured. Ending TB requires concerted action from all sectors. On World Tuberculosis Day, WHO calls on everyone, individuals, communities, corporations, donors and governments to do their part to end tuberculosis.

Author: Yandé DIOP – Seneweb.com