Fight against tuberculosis in Kenya now to focus on children

NAIROBI: The National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Disease (NTLD) Unit wants all health facilities to abolish fees for testing tuberculosis in children below five years.

Currently, there is a cost for Tuberculosis (TB) testing in children and it varies from one institution to another.

"We are pushing for free testing and diagnosis in cases involving children," said NTLD Paediatric Unit Coordinator Anne Kathure during a TB sensitisation conference at a Nairobi hotel.

NTLD Programme Deputy Head Maureen Kamene said children below five years are at high risk of developing TB.

"Although children don't transmit TB, they are affected and many die from the disease each year," Dr Kamene said.

A 2014 report by the NTLD revealed that children make up 11 per cent of all tuberculosis (TB) cases in Kenya, compared to 10.6 per cent in 2012 and 9.5 per cent in 2013. In addition, there are at least one million cases of TB worldwide among children younger than 15 years.

To curb the prevalence of child TB, NTLD will begin a major distribution of Isonazid Preventative Treatment for children starting on World Tuberculosis Day on March 24.

"This preventative therapy will see a reduction in the infection rate of TB among children. Also, case finding and treatment of infectious TB cases will significantly reduce the burden of child TB," said Dr Kathure.

Diagnosis in children is not easy though there have been significant improvements, she said.

"Kenya has adopted new and fast diagnostic tools," said Kamene.