Clinical standards for drug-susceptible TB in children and adolescents

Journal article

BACKGROUND: These clinical standards aim to provide guidance for diagnosis, treatment, and management of drug-susceptible TB in children and adolescents.METHODS: Fifty-two global experts in paediatric TB participated in a Delphi consensus process. After eight rounds of revisions, 51/52 (98%) participants endorsed the final document.RESULTS: Eight standards were identified: Standard 1, Age and developmental stage are critical considerations in the assessment and management of TB; Standard 2, Children and adolescents with symptoms and signs of TB disease should undergo prompt evaluation, and diagnosis and treatment initiation should not depend on microbiological confirmation; Standard 3, Treatment initiation is particularly urgent in children and adolescents with presumptive TB meningitis and disseminated (miliary) TB; Standard 4, Children and adolescents should be treated with an appropriate weight-based regimen; Standard 5, Treating TB infection (TBI) is important to prevent disease; Standard 6, Children and adolescents should receive home-based/community-based treatment support whenever possible; Standard 7, Children, adolescents, and their families should be provided age-appropriate support to optimise engagement in care and clinical outcomes; and Standard 8, Case reporting and contact tracing should be conducted for each child and adolescent.CONCLUSION: These consensus-based clinical standards, which should be adapted to local contexts, will improve the care of children and adolescents affected by TB

Authors: Chiang, SS; Graham, SM; Schaaf, HS; Marais, BJ; Sant'Anna, CC

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
• Journal: The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 584-598
• Publication date: 2023-07-26
• DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.23.0085
• EISSN: 1815-7920
• ISSN: 1027-3719
• Language: English
• Keywords: Gold standard (test); Surgery; Medicine; Pediatrics; Delphi method; Intensive care medicine; Disease; Regimen