Prevalence and Determinants of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Pediatric Household Contacts of Microbiologically Confirmed Pulmonary Tuberculosis Cases in Neyyattinkara TB Unit, South Kerala, India
Background and objectives: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) affects one-third of all mankind and is the reservoir for a significant proportion of emerging active tuberculosis (TB) cases in the future. The detection and management of TB infection is one of the key components of the WHO's End...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Jaypee Brothers Medical Publisher
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Respiratory Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ijrc.in/doi/IJRC/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-11010-1168 |
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| Summary: | Background and objectives: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) affects one-third of all mankind and is the reservoir for a significant proportion of emerging active tuberculosis (TB) cases in the future. The detection and management of TB infection is one of the key components of the WHO's End TB Strategy and the government of Kerala's “Akshaya Keralam” for action on TB prevention and control. The vulnerable group, children especially 5–15-year-old household contacts (HHC), are at risk of developing LTBI.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 90 pediatric HHC (5–15 years) of 48 microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients notified in Neyyattinkara TB unit from March 2021 to July 2022. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS trial version 26. All qualitative and quantitative variables were expressed as frequency and percentages, and using mean and standard deviation, respectively. <i>p</i>-value < 0.05 or 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was considered statistically significant.
Results: The proportion of LTBI among pediatric HHC of microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients was found to be 24.4% (95% CI: 15.53–28.93), and the proportion of LTBI in pediatric HHC among index cases was 45.8% (95% CI: 35.51–56.09). Of the selected sociodemographic factors studied, male gender compared to female had a high proportion of having LTBI, which was close to significance.
Conclusion: A high proportion of LTBI was found among pediatric HHC exposed to an index TB case. The detection and prophylactic treatment of LTBI cases play a pivotal role in the control and prevention of pediatric TB, which ultimately helps to achieve the elimination of TB. |
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| ISSN: | 2277-9019 2321-4899 |