Stop TB Partnership

ACTION releases report on 'hidden epidemic' of childhood TB

21 September 2011 - Washington, US - ACTION has published a report that highlights the link between tuberculosis (TB) and the world's most vulnerable children - those who are malnourished, orphans or living with HIV.

The report Children and Tuberculosis: Exposing a Hidden Epidemic, seeks to remind readers that TB is not a disease of the past and remains a leading killer of children worldwide.

The report says that of the 9 million people who become ill with TB a year, approximately 10 to 15 percent are children under 15. But it argues that the percentage may be even higher due to under-reporting of childhood TB. More effective diagnostics, vaccines and drugs designed specifically for children are needed, the report says.

Dr. Jeffrey Starke, a leading TB specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital, is quoted in the report. He states that childhood TB "is a fundamentally different disease than adult tuberculosis. Its proper diagnosis, treatment, and prevention require specific planning and resources. We must consider the unique nature of childhood TB if we’re to successfully eliminate TB anywhere in the world."

Read the full report and take action at www.action.org