CURRENT ISSUES REGARDING LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION IN CHILDREN

Abstract

In Lithuania tuberculosis (TB) morbidity in children remains higher than the average of other countries of the European Union. This is due to TB morbidity and successful treatment rate in adults in Lithuania since children rarely have forms of smear-positive TB and most often obtain it from adults suffering from smear-positive TB. The immune response of children is not completely developed, which in turn determines the peculiarities of TB diagnostics, treatment and prevention. Children and adolescents are at higher risk for progression from infection to TB disease with the potential for disseminated disease than adults. Children up to 5 years of age have the highest risk of becoming infected. Latent TB infection is the most specific to children. During this stage, the bacteria in the child are alive; however, they do not reproduce but can potentially become active. 10% of infected individuals will become ill with TB in their lifetime, which is why it is essential to identify latent TB infections in children and provide treatment if indications are present. For this, a detailed anamnesis and location of the point of contact with the individual suffering from TB are required. The tuberculin skin test (TST) remains the first choice of determining TB infections in children. It is mandatory to perform TST for every child aged 7 and annually for children pertaining to risk groups. In Lithuania in 2018 TST was performed for 68% of the children belonging to recommended groups. 
A positive TST was found in 10% of children.