A prospective evaluation of the symptom-based screening approach to the management of children who are contacts of tuberculosis cases

Abstract

Background. Child tuberculosis contact screening and management can enhance case finding and prevent tuberculosis disease. It is universally recommended but rarely implemented in tuberculosis-endemic settings. The World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended symptom-based screening approach could improve implementation but has not been prospectively evaluated. Methods. We conducted a cohort study of children who were close contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Indonesia from August 2010 to December 2012.We performed clinical assessment, tuberculin skin test, and chest radiography in all eligible children irrespective of symptoms at baseline. Mycobacterial culture and Xpert MTB/RIF as..