Proposed management of childhood tuberculosis in low-incidence countries

The incidence of childhood tuberculosis continues to decline in central Europe, but due to migration from high incidence countries paediatricians will still be confronted with it. The management of childhood tuberculosis in low-incidence, high-income countries differs from most high-incidence countries. The primary measures for preventing the transmission of tuberculosis to children are the detection of adult source cases, detection of latent TB infection (LTBI) in children by history, tuberculin skin testing and, if necessary and recommended, interferon-gamma release assays. Children with LTBI should receive preventive therapy. The inclusion of tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of unclear pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease remains important, and tuberculosis has to be managed according to international standards.