Perinatal tuberculosis—An approach to an under-recognized diagnosis
Tuberculosis (TB) in young infants (<3 months of age), often referred to as perinatal TB, is underdiagnosed, leading to severe morbidity and high mortality. Perinatal TB includes both congenital and postnatal transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to increase an awareness of TB...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1239734/full |
| _version_ | 1797635124699856896 |
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| author | H. Simon Schaaf Adrie Bekker Helena Rabie |
| author_facet | H. Simon Schaaf Adrie Bekker Helena Rabie |
| author_sort | H. Simon Schaaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tuberculosis (TB) in young infants (<3 months of age), often referred to as perinatal TB, is underdiagnosed, leading to severe morbidity and high mortality. Perinatal TB includes both congenital and postnatal transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to increase an awareness of TB in neonates and young infants and to provide guidance on the assessment and management when in contact with mothers with TB during or soon after pregnancy. Approximately 217,000 pregnant women develop TB annually; if they are not diagnosed and treated during pregnancy, their infants are at high risk of adverse birth outcomes and TB disease. Although safe and effective antituberculosis treatment regimens are available during pregnancy, the diagnosis of TB is challenging. Infants born to mothers newly diagnosed with TB, not receiving any effective treatment or with cultures not yet negative, should be assessed for TB disease or M. tuberculosis infection. TB preventive therapy should be instituted if the infant is clinically well but exposed to TB, while prompt initiation of TB treatment is essential if TB disease is presumed. HIV status of mother and infant should be considered as this will affect the management. Further research is needed for the diagnosis and prevention of TB during pregnancy, an early diagnosis of TB in infants, and antituberculosis drug pharmacokinetics in young infants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:17:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9efdb59cb1bc4f9f85596d7a1cebad0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:17:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9efdb59cb1bc4f9f85596d7a1cebad0c2023-11-07T07:21:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-11-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.12397341239734Perinatal tuberculosis—An approach to an under-recognized diagnosisH. Simon Schaaf0Adrie Bekker1Helena Rabie2Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaTuberculosis (TB) in young infants (<3 months of age), often referred to as perinatal TB, is underdiagnosed, leading to severe morbidity and high mortality. Perinatal TB includes both congenital and postnatal transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to increase an awareness of TB in neonates and young infants and to provide guidance on the assessment and management when in contact with mothers with TB during or soon after pregnancy. Approximately 217,000 pregnant women develop TB annually; if they are not diagnosed and treated during pregnancy, their infants are at high risk of adverse birth outcomes and TB disease. Although safe and effective antituberculosis treatment regimens are available during pregnancy, the diagnosis of TB is challenging. Infants born to mothers newly diagnosed with TB, not receiving any effective treatment or with cultures not yet negative, should be assessed for TB disease or M. tuberculosis infection. TB preventive therapy should be instituted if the infant is clinically well but exposed to TB, while prompt initiation of TB treatment is essential if TB disease is presumed. HIV status of mother and infant should be considered as this will affect the management. Further research is needed for the diagnosis and prevention of TB during pregnancy, an early diagnosis of TB in infants, and antituberculosis drug pharmacokinetics in young infants.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1239734/fulltuberculosisperinatalcongenitalpostnatalpreventiondiagnosis |
| spellingShingle | H. Simon Schaaf Adrie Bekker Helena Rabie Perinatal tuberculosis—An approach to an under-recognized diagnosis Frontiers in Public Health tuberculosis perinatal congenital postnatal prevention diagnosis |
| title | Perinatal tuberculosis—An approach to an under-recognized diagnosis |
| title_full | Perinatal tuberculosis—An approach to an under-recognized diagnosis |
| title_fullStr | Perinatal tuberculosis—An approach to an under-recognized diagnosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perinatal tuberculosis—An approach to an under-recognized diagnosis |
| title_short | Perinatal tuberculosis—An approach to an under-recognized diagnosis |
| title_sort | perinatal tuberculosis an approach to an under recognized diagnosis |
| topic | tuberculosis perinatal congenital postnatal prevention diagnosis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1239734/full |
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