- The WHO in March 2022 updated its guidelines on treatment of non-severe TB disease in children and adolescents
- The guidelines recommend a shorter duration of treatment and reduce the standard of care which is currently six months of therapy down to four months
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Kenya has adopted the World Health Organisation's recommended short-term treatment of tuberculosis I in children with non-severe disease.
Under the new treatment plan, children with non-severe TB disease can now complete treatment in four months instead of the current six months.
According to the Ministry of Health, the decision to introduce the shorter-term TB treatment regimen was aimed at ensuring sustained quality of care for children with TB, reducing TB-related morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents in line with global targets.
This will in turn significantly ease the burden on families and lead to improved treatment adherence, better treatment outcomes and an improved impact on childhood TB management.
The WHO in March 2022 updated its guidelines on the treatment of non-severe TB disease in children and adolescents.
The guidelines recommend a shorter duration of treatment and reduce the standard of care which is currently six months of therapy down to four months.
The adoption of the simplified diagnostic algorithm will ensure diagnosing TB in children is made easier, contributing to increased, early and more accurate detection.
“This milestone marks a significant stride in pediatric TB care, representing a pioneering effort to address the unique healthcare needs of children affected by this infectious disease,” WHO Kenya Country Representative Dr Abdourahmane Diallo said.
According to WHO, reducing the treatment duration from six to four months in this group of individuals is expected to majorly impact health outcomes.
It is estimated that more than one million children globally become sick with Tuberculosis annually, with the new guidelines positioned to also reduce the cost of healthcare for these individuals.
Health experts have noted that even though the country has made progress in the reduction of the TB burden, more needs to be done to attain the 2030 targets.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Health, Population and Nutrition director John Kuehnle said eliminating the TB burden will require Kenya to embrace new tools and strategies.
These, he said, include the digital chest x-ray fitted with artificial intelligence for TB screening and more sensitive point of care WHO recommended rapid molecular diagnostic tests like truenat.
Others include next-generation whole genome sequencing for better prevention and treatment, shorter treatment regimens and digital adherence technologies to improve adherence for good treatment outcomes.
Tuberculosis remains a major public health concern not only in Kenya but across the globe.
According to Public Health PS Mary Muthoni, Kenya recorded 90,841 TB cases in 2022, a significant increase from the 77,854 cases reported in 2021.
“Alarming as this figure is, it represents only 68 per cent of the estimated 133,000 TB cases that were likely to emerge that year, leaving 32 per cent undiagnosed and untreated,” Muthoni said.
It is also estimated that 756 drug-resistant TB cases were recorded in 2022, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated response to combat the disease.