One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to protect your darling child against infectious diseases, such as TB. This infectious illness mostly affects the lungs and causes severe harm to the body. The good news is, antibiotics can treat TB infections and are very effective in the treatment of Childhood TB. Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination can also help against tuberculosis in children. Some children with poor immunity can get this infection more easily, so, their parents should be extra careful about the TB symptoms.

What is TB?

Tuberculosis (TB), a common infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, often affects the lungs. Tuberculosis can present itself in different stages. Although it can also harm the kidneys, spine, and brain, but that is much less common. Here, we have explained all the stages of the infection.

Primary TB infection - The first phase is referred to as the primary infection when your immune system cells locate and seize the pathogens. The germs could be then entirely destroyed by the immune system, but in some cases, trapped bacteria could continue to exist and proliferate inside your body without you noticing anything. A primary infection usually causes no symptoms at all for most people, but a handful may have symptoms that are often similar to the flu.

Latent TB infection - Latent tuberculosis infection comes after the primary infection stage, and in this, stage-infected lung tissue gets surrounded by a wall formed by your immune system cells. If the immune system manages to contain the bacteria, they will be unable to cause any more damage to you, but if the bacteria don't get eliminated, you form latent TB that has no symptoms.

Active TB disease - This is when everyone starts to experience the symptoms because, in this stage, the infection gets out of control! Infections in the lungs or other bodily regions are brought on by the TB germs. Sometimes, active tuberculosis infection directly follows a primary infection without the middle phase! However, doctors say that patients usually form active TB after being a latent tuberculosis patient for months or sometimes even years.  

Common Tuberculosis (TB) Symptoms

Any patient with active TB may cough up mucus, and they'll be lethargic, get a fever and chills, lose weight, and have an appetite loss at the same time. All these symptoms will keep getting worse with time, and unfortunately, in certain patients, things could sometimes go better before getting seriously worse.

See a doctor if you have these symptoms:

• Fever
• A chronic cough that lasts for two weeks or longer
• Blood-filled phlegm, weight loss or no weight gain over 3 months
• Exhaustion
• Neck swelling
• Night sweats 
• Decrease in appetite
• Chest discomfort

Except for these, there are also uncommon TB symptoms. TB may result in chronically enlarged lymph nodes, often known as "swollen glands," stomach discomfort, loose motion, abdominal pain,  joint or bone pain, disorientation, and convulsions as well.  

Can Children Get Infected with Tuberculosis (TB)?

TB affects both adults and children. In children with weakened immune systems, tuberculosis can spread and become an especially aggressive illness. Childhood TB is more common in children who are HIV-positive or have diabetes. If they are receiving chemotherapy that might impair immunity and increase the chance of TB. 

Young children get TB more easily than older children! You need to remember that in children, tuberculosis (TB) can spread to their bloodstream and result in certain additional medical issues such as meningitis.  

Active TB Symptoms in Children

Childhood TB symptoms often differ from patient to patient because they are very age-specific. Infants with TB don't develop or put on weight as expected, and may also exhibit signs of fluid accumulation around the brain or spinal cord. They may seem lethargic, inactive, and have bad reflexes. Children under the age of 12 may have weight loss and an intractable fever. Childhood TB symptoms in teenagers resemble those of an adult.    

Tuberculosis Vaccination for Children 

Are there vaccines for TB that can keep children safe? This is a common question that doctors hear. Opting for a TB vaccination is actually a very good approach! This will keep your child protected from a TB infection. The BCG vaccination is a treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and children are advised to get it! Children living in areas where TB is common should always receive vaccines for TB. The same goes for children living with someone who has TB. Children who are immunocompromised are also at a higher risk of getting infected! That is why they should receive the TB vaccine as well. The dosing and schedule of vaccination should be discussed with the paediatrician.

Tuberculosis Treatment

TB is curable with the right medications and early detection! The most common treatment option is the use of antibiotics directed specifically against MTB. Usually, treatment includes taking an antibiotic every day for six months. The durations of anti-TB medicines may vary depending upon the type of infections.

Antibiotic-resistant germs might arise if a patient discontinues their prescription too soon. In this case, the patient would develop drug-resistant tuberculosis! This is why even if symptoms disappear, patients must finish the whole course. A physician may further recommend corticosteroids (depending on which bodily areas are impacted by tuberculosis).

Measures to prevent the spread of TB infection

TB patients cough and sneeze often, and when they do, they generate microscopic droplets, and then the Tuberculosis germs travel via air. These droplets carry the bacteria; someone can catch the illness if they breathe in them! This explains why those with active TB in their lungs spread the disease more easily, and for this same reason, tuberculosis in other parts of your body is typically not contagious. On surfaces, tuberculosis bacteria cannot survive. People won’t get TB from handshakes or hugs. However, being near an active TB patient always increases the chance of TB infection because people create small, infectious droplets just by talking or laughing. Apart from this, younger kids are prescribed prophylactic medication to protect them from getting the disease in certain situations.

Final Remarks

Tuberculosis spreads through the air and can create serious health issues. TB causes a large number of fatalities worldwide! This infection primarily affects the lungs, but can also affect other organs of the patient. Adults and children both can get TB, but immunocompromised children, in particular, are inclined to get TB infections more quickly. If you think that your child may have been showing TB symptoms, don't ever hesitate to get in touch with your doctor.