Childhood Tuberculosis — Time for Shorter Treatment

Posted byPhilip A. Lederer MDPosted ininfectious disease

The treatment regimens for pediatric tuberculosis are too long and complicated. A new study from Zambia, Uganda, South Africa and India attempted to rectify that situation. (I have been to 3 of the 4 study sites, in Lusaka; Kampala, and Stellenboch, but not Pune, India).

The bottom line is the clinical trial, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, looks like a success. The shorter, 4 month course of treatment was noninferior to the standard 6 month treatment course for non-severe, smear negative TB.

The broader issue is pediatric tuberculosis treatment doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Lab, radiology, pharmacy, and human resources infrastructure – doctors and nurses – are needed. HIV diagnosis and treatment is also a critical component of pediatric tuberculosis care, and requires resources.

More advocacy, and a vaccine better than BCG, are needed to stop kids from dying from tuberculosis.

Published by Philip A. Lederer MD

Thanks for visiting my website! I was born in 1980 in Columbus, Ohio and live with my family in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. My training is in internal medicine, public health, and infectious diseases. I am an advocate, writer, and musician, and recently I completed my first marathon.

2 thoughts on “Childhood Tuberculosis — Time for Shorter Treatment”

  2. Thanks

    On Thu, Mar 10, 2022 at 6:24 AM Health and Healing wrote:

    > Philip Lederer MD posted: ” The treatment regimens for pediatric > tuberculosis are too long and complicated. A new study from Zambia, Uganda, > South Africa and India attempted to rectify that situation. (I have been to > 3 of the 4 study sites, in Lusaka; Kampala, and Stellenboch, but ” >

    Reply

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