| مستخلص: |
Background: Childhood tuberculosis and malnutrition are major health challenges in most underdeveloped countries. Under nutrition is not only a risk factor for progression of latent TB infection to active disease but also intensifies the risk of mortality. Objective: To evaluate the patterns of malnutrition with time in enrolled children with presumptive TB. Methods: RaPaed-TB is a multi-diagnostic study conducted in Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, and India. Children < 15 years with presumptive TB were enrolled into the study since January 2019 and tested for TB by Gene Xpert and culture. Anthropometric measurements were taken in all attended visits and Z-score was calculated at the end of study visits. All children with malnutrition were linked to the national program of treating malnutrition. Results: As of June 2022, 974 children were enrolled. Overall, 60.98% (547/897) were non-malnourished, 18.51% (166/897) had mild malnutrition, 11.04% (99/897) moderate malnutrition and 9.48% (85/897) severe malnutrition at baseline. When stratified by disease state; among microbiologically confirmed TB cases, 60% had no malnutrition, 14% mild, 15% moderate and 9% severe malnutrition. For unlikely TB, 64% had no malnutrition, 23.5% mild, 5.9% moderate and 6.4% severe malnutrition. There was no substantial difference in the pattern of malnutrition between confirmed and unconfirmed disease groups. After 6 months of follow-up, 79% of confirmed TB cases had no malnutrition which includes children without malnutrition at baseline and those who improved after TB and Malnutrition treatment. Nutritional status was seen to improve with TB treatment despite some having malnutrition until the end of study. Conclusion: Malnutrition and TB are closely linked, highlighting the need for improved integration of nutritional services. Nutritional supplementation represents a crucial approach for fast recovery in tuberculosis patients and proves to be an effective measure to control tuberculosis and help reduce mortality among children with TB and acute malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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