Tuberculosis in Infants and Children
Topic Overview
Infants and children who have regular contact (such as living in the
same house) with someone who has active (infectious)
tuberculosis (TB) have an increased risk of becoming
infected. It is extremely rare for a fetus to become infected before
birth.
Infants'
immune systems quickly produce the tiny capsules
(tubercles) that surround and wall off (encapsulate) TB-causing bacteria in the
lungs. This process may cause extensive lung damage. Often a TB infection in
infants quickly becomes active TB. In infants, it is also common for the
disease to affect other parts of the body in addition to the lungs. Therefore,
an infant who is found to have a TB infection needs to be treated as soon as
possible. TB usually does not spread outside the lungs in older children unless
they have weakened immune systems.
Children who have active TB who complete an entire course of
treatment usually recover fully.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology
W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Current as ofNovember 18, 2017
Current as of:
November 18, 2017
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology & W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
