Get to know TB in children and appropriate care

Tuberculosis in children occurs because the child has inhaled the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the air. This bacterium then settles in the lungs and can develop to other parts of the body, such as the spine, kidneys and even the brain.

Children with tuberculosis or tuberculosis may not be infected by their peers, but by adults with this disease.


When an adult with TB coughs or sneezes, the bacteria that causes TB spreads in the air. At this point, TB can be transmitted to people around it, children and adults.
TB infection in children

TB disease, or commonly known as TB, is divided into two stages, namely:

Exhibition stage

At this stage, the child is infected with TB germs. But if the child's immune system is strong, the growth of TB germs can be suppressed so that it does not cause symptoms.

In some cases of pediatric TB, especially in older children, the infection only reaches the stage of exposure. If this is the case, the child does not complain, even if the results of the tuberculin examination indicate that he has been exposed to tuberculosis.

The active TB stage

If the child's immune system is unable to fight the incoming TB germs, it will multiply and cause disease. Some of the symptoms of TB in children are:

  • A long cough that doesn't heal, usually more than 3 weeks.
  • Fever for more than 2 weeks.
  • Remove blood.
  • Weak body.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • The weight does not increase.
  • Hard to breathe.
  • Night sweats.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.
  • Growth retardation.

Tuberculosis examination methods in children

Although physical examinations and chest x-rays have been carried out, there is no evidence of TB infection in children. For more accurate results, the doctor will do a tuberculin skin test or Mantoux test.

Tuberculosis tests are performed to determine whether a child has been exposed to TB bacteria. If the tuberculin test results are positive, it is very likely that the child has been infected, especially if the symptoms support it.

In addition to conducting a tuberculin test, the doctor will also perform sputum examination and sputum culture to determine whether there are tuberculosis germs in a child's body, especially in children. respiratory tract.

Treatment of tuberculosis in children

If the child has tested positive for TB, treatment must be done immediately. TB treatment is given to children who are already in the active TB stage, as well as for children infected with TB germs, even if they have no symptoms.

Children newly infected with TB bacteria who do not have symptoms of active TB will receive isoniazid, an anti-tuberculosis drug (OAT), which must be taken every day for nine months.

While in children diagnosed with active TB, doctors will provide treatment with three types of OAT, namely isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampicin. These medicines must be taken every day for 2 months. Then, for the next 4 months, only two types of drugs were maintained, namely rifampicin and isoniazid.

All adult TB drugs cannot be used in children. In general, this type of ethambutol OAT is not given to children because this drug can have an adverse effect on their vision.

So far, Indonesia is one of the countries in the world with the highest number of TB cases. Through various government programs and suggestions to increase public awareness about the importance of health care, the number of people with TB in children is expected to decrease.

By following the treatment optimally in accordance with the duration determined by the doctor, children can recover fully from tuberculosis and avoid complications.



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