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Paediatric Tuberculosis Diagnosis in Resource-Limited Settings: Current Challenges, Available Methods and Emerging Solutions
Subject area: Biological & Medical Sciences · Area of research: Tuberculosis Diagnosis : emerging solutions
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1720097
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in resource-limited settings. Diagnosing paediatric TB is challenging due to non-specific clinical symptoms, low bacterial load, and difficulties in obtaining suitable specimens from children. This review summarizes the major challenges associated with childhood TB diagnosis and evaluates current diagnostic approaches including clinical assessment, tuberculin skin testing, chest radiography, smear microscopy, culture methods, and molecular diagnostics such as Xpert MTB/RIF. Alternative specimen collection methods, including gastric aspirates, induced sputum, stool, and nasopharyngeal samples, are also discussed. Recent innovations, including Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and urine lipoarabinomannan assays, offer improved diagnostic opportunities but remain limited by cost and infrastructure requirements. Strengthening diagnostic capacity, expanding access to rapid molecular tests, and developing child-friendly point-of-care diagnostics are essential to improving paediatric TB detection and reducing disease burden in low-resource settings.
Keywords
Childhood tuberculosis, Diagnosis, Resource-limited settings, Xpert MTB/RIF
References
[1] World Health Organization. Global Tuberculosis Report 2022.
[2] World Health Organization. WHO Consolidated Guidelines on Tuberculosis Management in Children and Adolescents. 2022.
[3] Marais BJ et al. Paediatric tuberculosis: New advances to close persistent gaps. Int J Infect Dis. 2021.
[4] Nicol MP, Zar HJ. Advances in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2020.
[5] Kay AW et al. Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assays for active tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022.
[6] Gunasekera KS et al. Diagnostic challenges in childhood pulmonary tuberculosis. Pathogens. 2022.
[7] Basile FW et al. Pediatric tuberculosis diagnostics: Present and future. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2022.
[8] Wobudeya E et al. Diagnostic advances in childhood tuberculosis. Pathogens. 2022.
[9] Goletti D et al. The role of IGRA in TB diagnosis. Int J Infect Dis. 2022.
[10] Oliwa JN et al. Perspectives of health workers around diagnosis of paediatric tuberculosis in resource-poor settings. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020.
How to cite this paper
@article{1720097,
author = {Fehinti Prisca Ajiboye, Bukola Adeyoola Ajide},
title = {Paediatric Tuberculosis Diagnosis in Resource-Limited Settings: Current Challenges, Available Methods and Emerging Solutions},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {2908-2910},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1720097.pdf},
abstract = {Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in resource-limited settings. Diagnosing paediatric TB is challenging due to non-specific clinical symptoms, low bacterial load, and difficulties in obtaining suitable specimens from children. This review summarizes the major challenges associated with childhood TB diagnosis and evaluates current diagnostic approaches including clinical assessment, tuberculin skin testing, chest radiography, smear microscopy, culture methods, and molecular diagnostics such as Xpert MTB/RIF. Alternative specimen collection methods, including gastric aspirates, induced sputum, stool, and nasopharyngeal samples, are also discussed. Recent innovations, including Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and urine lipoarabinomannan assays, offer improved diagnostic opportunities but remain limited by cost and infrastructure requirements. Strengthening diagnostic capacity, expanding access to rapid molecular tests, and developing child-friendly point-of-care diagnostics are essential to improving paediatric TB detection and reducing disease burden in low-resource settings.},
keywords = {Childhood tuberculosis, Diagnosis, Resource-limited settings, Xpert MTB/RIF},
month = {July},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1720097}
}