Advances in Tuberculosis: Diagnostics

Abstract

Tuberculosis in children is a well identified morbidity. In 2017, an estimated 10.0 million people (range, 9.0–11.1 million) developed TB disease globally. This includes 5.8 million men, 3.2 million women and 1.0 million children. Precise magnitude of pediatric tuberculosis is not known but it is estimated that about 10% of total burden of tuberculosis is among children. In India, estimated 2.2 lakh children become ill with tuberculosis (TB) each year (22% of global TB burden), with a slightly higher burden among males. Pulmonary TB is the most common form in children but the extrapulmonary TB forms a larger proportion of cases than in adults [1]. The advances in the TB diagnostics and treatment are being enlarged to cover all age populations, including children. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, is bringing out a special symposium on advances in pediatric tuberculosis. Articles written by experts on various aspects of childhood tuberculosis shall be included in this two part symposium. The current issue of the journal includes articles related to the diagnostics of tuberculosis in children. Diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis is a challenge due to the pauci-bacillary nature of infection and the difficulty in obtaining appropriate sample. The first article on advances in the diagnosis by Wattal et al. discusses details of new tests introduced over a past few decades for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) with special focus on those which have been evaluated for their application in pediatric tuberculosis [2]. There is an attempt to improve smear microscopy by introducing light-emitting diode (LED) fluorescence microscopy and there are also some automated digital microscopy platforms under evaluation. Introduction of automated liquid culture platform along with rapid molecular based identification methods have considerably reduced the time delay in mycobacterial culture. Recent addition of many nucleic acid amplification platforms like Amplicor PCRTM, GenprobeTM, Xpert MTB/RifTM, line probe assays like Hain’s Test, loop mediated isothermal amplification, etc. have widened the choice of tests available for the bacteriological diagnosis of TB and also the rapid detection of resistance to anti-TB drugs. Latest techniques like microarray and gene sequencing are also being used in clinical laboratories with variable results. Tuberculin skin test and T cell based interferon-gamma release assays have their role primarily in the diagnosis of latent TB infection or as an indirect evidence for likely TB disease. Biomarkers are the latest addition in the battery of TB diagnostic tests facilitating diagnosis using easily accessible samples like urine, blood and breath of patients. Many biomarkers are still under evaluation and some of them are found to have a potential role as promising diagnostic tests of future. Imaging is an integral part in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children. The article by Naranje et al. discusses the role of various imaging modalities like chest radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and functional scans like FDG PET CT [3]. Authors have detailed about the optimal use X-ray film of chest and its interpretations. They also discuss indications for CT scan, its interpretation and utility for monitoring the response. The article also addresses the issue of utility of MRI and functional PET CT scan in pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis. Chest Ultrasonography (USG) is an emerging investigation and its role in the diagnosis and monitoring is evolving. Naranje et al. discuss current status of USG specifically in the context of pulmonary tuberculosis [3]. TB can affect almost any organ system of the body. The clinical manifestations of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) are often non-specific. Imaging findings are also not always very specific thus making the diagnosis of EPTBmore challenging than pulmonary tuberculosis. The article by Dawani et al. describes the imaging spectrum and role of imaging modalities such as USG, CT Scan and MRI in different types of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis [4]. * Sushil K. Kabra [email protected]