Mmegi on Wednesday examined tuberculosis treatment and prevention efforts among children in Botswana. About 10% of people with TB in the country are children younger than age 14, according to Mmegi. According to Loeto Mazhani, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, 64% of children with TB live in the districts of Francistown, Gantsi, Kgalagadi North and Okavango. Reported TB incidence in Botswana increased from 202 cases per 100,000 people in 1989 to 602 cases per 100,000 people last year.
Mazhani said children usually get TB through someone coughing who already has TB in their sputum. Laura Martindale, a community health specialist in D'Kar, Botswana, said children often contract TB in low-income homes, where "people tend to live in cramped spaces with children."
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lung. It may spread to other organs.
The health ministry recommends DOTS for the treatment of the disease. Mazhani said the success of DOTS "depends very much on the support of the caregiver who may be the parents or guardians," adding that the drug regimen has been "very successful" when school teachers observe children being treated. Mazhani said that parents should adopt "early health-seeking behavior" and actively try to prevent the transmission of TB to children.
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
VEN/C
Tuberculosis in Children - Therapy for Tuberculosis
Treatment recommendations for the various forms of tuberculosis for Group-I are Isoniazid and Rifampicin. The consensus statement of the IAP working group is monotherapy.
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