Each year an estimated 80,000 children die due to Tuberculosis and more than half a million get infected with the bacteria according to World Health Organization (WHO) as posted in KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation.
Compared to adults, TB among children is less likely to be infectious but these young children are at a high risk for developing fatal complications due to these bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If a child is diagnosed with TB, the prognosis is good yet TB drugs are not available in pediatric formula until now.
Available stocks of medications are syrups and tablets for adults that may bring the risk of under-dosage or overdosage among children if crushed or chewed. A pediatric infectious disease specialist may be needed to make a decision regarding the treatment regimen. Nine months of treatment would be suggested for a one drug regimen and six months for a four-drug regimen according to Bundoo.
Furthermore, preventing childhood tuberculosis is already included on WHO's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and one of its programs is the BCG vaccination, an effective step in protecting children from acquiring TB.
So, as a mother, you must also do your job. Be accountable enough to also protect your child from acquiring the disease because it is not only the health care services' responsibility to prevent TB but yours, too.
Here are some of the practices you may try to consider to get away from TB from Slideshare.
1. Improve living conditions with good housing and offer good nutrition among your children
2. If one of the family members is diagnosed with TB, screening must be done for everyone.
3. Separate the utensils used by a family member diagnosed with TB.
4. TB prophylaxis for your child under 5 years old is advised.
In conclusion, prevention, treatment, monitoring and evaluation of TB will just remain as jargons globally if everyone will not do his or her responsibility to combat the disease. As posted on TBfacts.org, the urgent need for prioritization, public attention, commitment and funding for this disease may help save a life of a child.
