One size does not fit all: preventing tuberculosis among child contacts

### Summary box The United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting (HLM) on Ending TB in 2018 brought government leaders and other stakeholders together to highlight the urgent need to address tuberculosis (TB), the leading infectious disease killer worldwide.1 In advance of the HLM, the WHO and other organisations, released updated guidance on preventing and treating childhood TB.2 The HLM outcome was encouraging with>100 countries agreeing to provide 30 million people with TB preventive treatment (TPT), including 4 million young children (<5 years), by the end of 2022. Tuberculosis is particularly deadly for children. In 2018, an estimated 1.1 million children developed TB and >2 00 000 children died.3 7.5 million are exposed to TB at the household level and are in need of TB evaluation and TPT to avert TB disease.3 4 Young children are particularly vulnerable, and are at risk for disseminated and severe forms of TB.5 In 2016, in recognition of the importance of preventing TB among young children, the WHO added TPT initiation for eligible child contacts as …

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