Analysis of Factors Affecting the Rate of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Management in Pediatrics

The incidence of tuberculosis remains high in South Korea; the management of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) has become the prime target for reducing the infection rate. The management of pediatric LTBI is especially crucial because children can serve as a long-term source of infection upon dev...

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Main Authors: Hee Won Ma, Hee Soo Lee, Ji Young Ahn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/10/1567
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author Hee Won Ma
Hee Soo Lee
Ji Young Ahn
author_facet Hee Won Ma
Hee Soo Lee
Ji Young Ahn
author_sort Hee Won Ma
collection DOAJ
description The incidence of tuberculosis remains high in South Korea; the management of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) has become the prime target for reducing the infection rate. The management of pediatric LTBI is especially crucial because children can serve as a long-term source of infection upon developing active tuberculosis. Therefore, it is important to assess pediatric LTBI using contact investigation and follow-up. We conducted a retrospective study on children aged between 0 and 18 years who visited our hospital for tuberculosis contact screening from February 2012 to February 2021. Tuberculosis index cases and their clinical characteristics were also reviewed retrospectively. A total of 350 children were investigated, and 68 of 247 (27.5%) were diagnosed with LTBI. The rate of LTBI (r = 7.98, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and the risk of loss to follow-up (r = 27.038, <i>p</i> < 0.001) were higher in cases with close household contact. Sputum (r = 10.992, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and positive acid-fast bacillus (AFB) stain (r = 4.458, <i>p</i> = 0.001) in tuberculosis index cases were related to the diagnosis of LTBI in pediatric contacts. Active management is needed for tuberculosis screening in pediatric contacts, especially when the contacts are older and the index case is within the family, and when the index case has sputum and has tested positive for AFB smear.
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spelling doaj.art-d2032ee2457c44f38a92498be26d79fb2023-11-23T23:33:02ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-10-01910156710.3390/children9101567Analysis of Factors Affecting the Rate of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Management in PediatricsHee Won Ma0Hee Soo Lee1Ji Young Ahn2College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu 42415, KoreaCollege of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu 42415, KoreaDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu 42415, KoreaThe incidence of tuberculosis remains high in South Korea; the management of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) has become the prime target for reducing the infection rate. The management of pediatric LTBI is especially crucial because children can serve as a long-term source of infection upon developing active tuberculosis. Therefore, it is important to assess pediatric LTBI using contact investigation and follow-up. We conducted a retrospective study on children aged between 0 and 18 years who visited our hospital for tuberculosis contact screening from February 2012 to February 2021. Tuberculosis index cases and their clinical characteristics were also reviewed retrospectively. A total of 350 children were investigated, and 68 of 247 (27.5%) were diagnosed with LTBI. The rate of LTBI (r = 7.98, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and the risk of loss to follow-up (r = 27.038, <i>p</i> < 0.001) were higher in cases with close household contact. Sputum (r = 10.992, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and positive acid-fast bacillus (AFB) stain (r = 4.458, <i>p</i> = 0.001) in tuberculosis index cases were related to the diagnosis of LTBI in pediatric contacts. Active management is needed for tuberculosis screening in pediatric contacts, especially when the contacts are older and the index case is within the family, and when the index case has sputum and has tested positive for AFB smear.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/10/1567latent tuberculosis infectioncontact investigationfollow-upindex casepediatrics
spellingShingle Hee Won Ma
Hee Soo Lee
Ji Young Ahn
Analysis of Factors Affecting the Rate of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Management in Pediatrics
Children
latent tuberculosis infection
contact investigation
follow-up
index case
pediatrics
title Analysis of Factors Affecting the Rate of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Management in Pediatrics
title_full Analysis of Factors Affecting the Rate of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Management in Pediatrics
title_fullStr Analysis of Factors Affecting the Rate of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Management in Pediatrics
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Factors Affecting the Rate of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Management in Pediatrics
title_short Analysis of Factors Affecting the Rate of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Management in Pediatrics
title_sort analysis of factors affecting the rate of latent tuberculosis infection and management in pediatrics
topic latent tuberculosis infection
contact investigation
follow-up
index case
pediatrics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/10/1567
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