(C) Our World in Data
This story was originally published by Our World in Data and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



Tuberculosis [1]

[]

Date: 2019-01-01  

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the leading infectious cause of death worldwide; it is characterized by unique clinical stages. Adults with contagious forms of tuberculosis transmit the organism to the children around them. Children can develop tuberculosis infection, defined as having an immune response to M. tuberculosis without having clinical or radiographic signs of pathology. If a child is identified with infection, one of several simple and effective regimens can eliminate the organism and prevent progression to tuberculosis disease. The risk of progression from tuberculosis infection to disease is highest in young children and those with a weakened immune system, either from poorly controlled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, malnutrition, or immune-modulating medicines. If a child progresses to tuberculosis disease, effective therapy with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol is available for a 6-month regimen for uncomplicated drug-susceptible TB. The growing burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis is a challenging dilemma, but new regimens are being developed that may improve the quality of life of affected children.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323448871000298

Published and (C) by Our World in Data
Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons BY.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/ourworldindata/