Tuberculosis in children occurs because the child inhaled the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the air. These bacteria then settle in the lungs and can develop to other parts of the body, such as the spine, kidneys, and even the brain.
Children who are exposed to tuberculosis or tuberculosis are most likely not infected by their peers, but rather from adults who suffer from the disease.
When adults who suffer from tuberculosis cough or sneeze, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis will spread into the air. At that time, transmission of TB disease to those around him can occur, both to children and adults. Children who have a weakened immune system, for example because of HIV in children or malnourished, have a higher risk of developing child TB.
TB infection in children
TB disease, or commonly called TB, is divided into two stages, namely:
Stage of exposure
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 they don't cause any symptoms.
Some cases of pediatric tuberculosis, especially in older children, infection only reaches the stage of exposure. If like this, the child does not experience any complaints even though the results of a tuberculin examination show that he had been exposed to TB germs.
Stage of active TB disease
If the child's immune system is unable to fight the TB germs that enter, the germ will multiply and cause TB disease. Some of the symptoms of TB disease in children are:
- A long cough that doesn't heal, usually for more than 3 weeks.
- Fever for more than 2 weeks.
- Coughing up blood.
- Weak body.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight does not increase.
- Hard to breathe.
- Night sweats.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Stunted growth.
Methods of Examination of Child Tuberculosis
Although physical examination and chest X-ray have been done, there may not be any signs of TB infection in children. To get more accurate results, the doctor will do a tuberculin skin test or Mantoux test.
Tuberculin tests are performed to determine whether a child has been exposed to tuberculosis bacteria. If the tuberculin test results are positive, then most likely the child has been infected, especially if the symptoms are indeed supportive.
In addition to conducting a tuberculin test, the doctor will also conduct a sputum examination and sputum culture to determine whether TB germs are present in a child's body, especially in the respiratory tract.
Treatment of tuberculosis in children
If the child has tested positive for TB, then treatment needs to be done immediately. TB treatment is given to children who are already in the active TB phase, as well as children who have been infected with TB germs even though they have not shown symptoms.
Children who are newly infected with the TB bacteria and have not yet shown symptoms of active TB will be given the anti-tuberculosis drug (OAT) isoniazid, which must be consumed every day for nine months.
While in children who have been diagnosed with active TB, doctors will provide treatment that consists of 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 continued, namely rifampicin and isoniazid.
Not all TB drugs for adults can be used in children. Children are generally not given the type of ethambutol OAT, because this drug can have a harmful effect on children's vision.
Until now, Indonesia is still one of the countries with the most TB cases in the world. Through various government programs and counseling to increase public awareness of the importance of health care, it is expected that the number of people with tuberculosis in children can decrease.
By undergoing complete treatment according to the duration determined by the doctor, children can recover completely from TB and avoid complications.
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