A contact tracing exercise identifies 20 close contacts of a patient with smear-positive pulmonary TB in London. How should child contacts under 5 yea...

Question

A contact tracing exercise identifies 20 close contacts of a patient with smear-positive pulmonary TB in London. How should child contacts under 5 years be managed differently from adult contacts?

Accepted Answer

Children under 5 should be started on isoniazid chemoprophylaxis immediately (window prophylaxis) pending LTBI testing, as they have a higher risk of rapid progression to active disease including miliary TB and TB meningitis

Answer

No difference in management between children and adults

Answer

Children under 5 should receive BCG vaccination only

Answer

Children under 5 should be discharged from follow-up if asymptomatic

Answer

Children under 5 should have sputum cultures before any action

uk-dtmh MCQ (SBA): TB Contact Tracing in Children Under 5

A contact tracing exercise identifies 20 close contacts of a patient with smear-positive pulmonary TB in London. How should child contacts under 5 years be managed differently from adult contacts?