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Introduction: Following exposure to infectious tuberculosis e.g. in a kindergarden setting preventative therapy (IPT) with isoniazide (INH) is recommended for all children under the age of five at least 8 weeks followed by immunological tests (TST, IGRA) for TB infection. Compliance with IPT is often poor an infection rates very from 5-10%. Methods: Children who were exposed to infectious tuberculosis in their kindergarden but showed no signs of infection (TST and IGRA negative) were started on IPT with INH for minimum 8 weeks. One group received medication and regular follow up care, the other one more detailed and repetitive parent information, teaching and a close follow up by paediatricians and health care authorities. At the end of treatment all children were retested for TB infection (TST, IGRA). Adherence with treatment as well as reasons for interruption of therapy were recorded. Results: Two groups of 44 and 46 children between one and five years of age were examined. In the group without specific intervention 25/46 (54%) were adherent, in the intervention group 37/44(89%) reported good adherence. In the first group 4/46 (8,6%) of the children developed TB infection (positive TST/IGRA) after 8 weeks, whereas none of the children in the intervention group developed infection. Method: Timely and detailed information of families as well as a close follow up increases adherence with IPT in TB exposed small children and therefore significantly reduces the risk of TB infection. |
