Sign in Subscribe
Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment in Children: Key Takeaways

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study published in the Indian Journal of Public Health has highlighted the challenges in child contact management (CCM) under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in India. The study aimed to assess the CCM in terms of screening and initiation of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) among child contacts of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Kalaburagi District of North Karnataka.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 192 child contacts and 108 pulmonary TB cases registered from January 2019 to December 2020 from two randomly selected TB units, one each from rural and urban areas.
  • Most of the children were in the age group of 2-4 years, belonging to rural areas and below poverty line families.
  • Screening of child contacts was good, with a coverage of 97.9%, but initiation of IPT was initiated in only 49.4% of the screened children.
  • Initiation of IPT was found to be low among males, relatively younger children, and rural population.
  • Lower rates of initiation of IPT were also noted among the children with male index cases, those who are aged 45 years, and also among households with more than one child contact.
  • Poor initiation rates were found among the children for whom the index cases presented with any of the comorbidity and addiction.
  • The study concluded that despite good screening rates, IPT initiation was relatively low, emphasizing the need for effective strategies and tools to improve CCM under the program.

Statistics:

  • 192 child contacts included in the study
  • 108 pulmonary TB cases registered from January 2019 to December 2020
  • 97.9% of child contacts were screened
  • 49.4% of screened children initiated IPT
  • Male child contacts had lower IPT initiation rates compared to female child contacts
  • Children from rural areas and below poverty line families were more likely to not initiate IPT
  • Households with more than one child contact had lower IPT initiation rates

Sources:

  • Child Contact Management in Tuberculosis under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program in Kalaburagi District of North Karnataka. Indian Journal of Public Health, 2025;69(3):299-302.
  • Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, Wolters Kluwer India Pvt Ltd
  • Saraswati V. Sajjan, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
  • NewsRx. Research from Hospital and Research Centre Yields New Findings on Tuberculosis (Child Contact Management in Tuberculosis under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program in Kalaburagi District of North Karnataka). TB & Outbreaks Week. October 21, 2025; p 496.

Read more