Understanding Childhood TB: A Guide for Parents

TB in children (tuberculosis, yakshma, tkashtra or takarosh) is an infectious disease, which occurs due to coming in contact with a special type of bacteria. When the infected person sneezes and coughs, the bacteria can infect other children and people through air. Usually these bacteria affect the lungs, but they can also show their effect on other parts of the body. Based on the affected organs, TB in children is divided into the following four types:

Pulmonary TB:
This type of TB mainly affects the lungs.

TB Meningitis:
In this, TB targets the central nervous system. 

Osteal TB:
This type of TB shows its ill effects on the bones of the patient.

Lymph nodes:
This type of TB damages the lymph nodes.

Like adults, TB infection in children is also divided into the following three stages:

Exposure:
In this stage, TB bacteria enter the child's body.

Latent TB infection:
In this stage, despite the TB bacteria entering the child's body, no symptoms are seen. If the immune system is strong, then TB bacteria can remain inactive in the person's body for life.

TB disease:
In this stage, symptoms of TB start appearing in the child's body, along with this, the result of skin test and chest X-ray done to identify TB in this stage comes positive.

When there is more TB bacteria in children and the bacteria affect the organs, the symptoms of this disease start appearing. Usually, your child starts feeling sick and can also infect other people with TB.

The symptoms of TB can vary from child to child. However, symptoms of TB in children can appear even after two months or two years after getting infected. The following symptoms of TB are seen in children:

• Coughing for more than two weeks 
• Swelling in lymph nodes
• Fever especially at night 
• Child not gaining weight 
• Child not feeling hungry
• Night sweating 
• Chest pain 
• Blood in sputum 
• Fatigue and lethargy etc.

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A bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis causes TB in children. If your child's immunity is strong, it destroys the bacteria before they spread the disease. If the bacteria are not destroyed by the immunity, they spread throughout the body through blood and lymph nodes.

TB bacteria spread through air in children. When a person infected with lung TB coughs or sneezes, the bacteria also infect other people around them through air. TB of the lungs and throat is an infectious disease. Whereas TB occurring in other parts of the body such as kidney and spinal cord TB is usually not infectious. A person living with a TB infected child is very likely to get TB.

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The following types of children are more likely to get TB:

• If the child has diseases (such as HIV) that reduce the immune system, then they are more likely to get TB. Due to these diseases, the immune system is unable to destroy the TB bacteria. 
• Living with a TB infected person in the house increases the risk of the child getting TB. 
• The body of children who are victims of malnutrition becomes weak and they are not able to destroy the TB bacteria.
• The immunity of children below the age of five is weak, in such a situation they are more likely to get active TB.

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After the symptoms of TB appear in the child, the doctor advises you to get the following tests done to confirm the disease.

• Getting an armpit examination or biopsy done by a trained technician.
• Doing a culture test to check the activity of bacteria, this helps the doctor understand the response of the child to antibiotics. 
• Chest X-ray is used to check the damage to the child's lungs.
• Skin test is done to check for latent TB. 
• Doing IGRA test from blood, in this latent TB is determined from immune cells.

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The most popular way to prevent TB in children is to give the BCG vaccine. Only the BCG vaccine works to protect against TB. BCG vaccine is given as part of the vaccination campaign to protect children from all types of TB. If any member of the family has TB or HIV, then keep the child away from the infected person until he is cured.

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Treatment Of TB In Children 

It is very important to identify and treat TB at the right time, otherwise this disease can cause serious health problems for both children and adults. Along with other medicines, isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol are also used in the treatment of TB. The duration of treatment is determined based on the antibiotic medicine given to the child. In some cases, three or four different medicines are given to the child. This reduces the infection and prevents the bacteria from spreading to other parts.

Care of children in TB

• Give the medicine prescribed by the doctor in a fixed dose at the prescribed time. If any kind of side effect is seen from the medicine, consult the doctor immediately.
• With a nutritious diet and lifestyle, the weight lost during the illness can be brought back to a normal level. 
• Due to illness, the child feels tired and lethargic. In such a situation, let the child rest as much as possible.
• Do not send the child to school during illness. Other students can also get infected if the child goes to school during TB. 

Home Remedies For TB In Children

Below are some food items that can help you reduce the symptoms of TB in children-

Garlic:
Garlic contains antibacterial elements, which do not allow TB bacteria to grow in the body of children.

Cupid:
Cupid (Sittaphal) contains elements that cure TB. This fruit is also useful in reducing the symptoms of TB. 

Orange:
The elements present in orange help in clearing the mucus that blocks the airways. 

Banana:
For centuries, elders have been saying to feed bananas to children. Feeding bananas to the child in any form twice a day reduces the symptoms of TB.

Amla:
Amla contains anti-inflammatory and many such nutritious properties, which give energy to the child. You can also give amla and honey juice to the child. 

Other foods that reduce TB:

• Peppermint
• Black pepper
• Pineapple
• Green tea
• Walnuts
• Milk, etc.

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TB (tuberculosis) in children is a serious disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually affects the lungs, but can also spread to other parts of the body. The main cause of TB in children is contact with infected individuals and a weak immune system. Its symptoms include prolonged cough, fever, weight loss, fatigue, and night sweats. TB is treated with a long-term antibiotic course, which is very important to complete as per the doctor's advice. To protect children from TB, get BCG vaccine on time and take care of nutrition, hygiene and protection from TB infected persons.