- Tuberculosis in children - Actual problems of modern
- Treatment
How to treat tuberculosis in children
In pediatric medicine has long followed a simple principle: children - are not small adults. Their body largely operates differently than adults, and this should be considered when choosing a method of treatment. Treatment of TB in children is carried out mainly by the same medications used to treat adult patients, but the dosage regimen may vary widely.
The same drugs may affect children and adults in many ways due to the physiological characteristics inherent in some age groups. On the way drugs are processed in the body, affecting, for example, the total volume of water in the body (in term infants it is 70-80% of body weight, preterm - 85% in patients aged 12 years and older - about 64 %), metabolic rate
Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things
(school-aged children, it can be increased, because of which the need to increase the dose of medication), liver function, and so on. The need to assign children lower doses of the drugs is also associated with the fact that they have the bacterial load, as a rule, lower than in adults.
Numerous studies and practical experience of treatment in many countries have shown that isoniazid and rifampicin for six months, in combination with pyrazinamide in the first two months, allowing to cure tuberculosis in children in 99% of cases. In some cases, the drug is used as ethambutol.
Some experts believe that TB in children with milder forms of the disease can be effectively treated only isoniazid and rifampicin; treatment medication can last from six to nine months. However, most doctors agree that the use of pyrazinamide for the first time, significantly improves the effectiveness of therapy. Because of the potential problems with tolerability fourth drug - ethambutol administered only in cases when there is a risk of developing drug resistance, or if the child has severe, life-threatening form of TB.
Doses of drugs for the treatment of children is usually calculated as follows:
- Isoniazid - 10-15 mg / kg body weight per day;
- Rifampicin - 10-20 mg / kg body weight per day;
- Pyrazinamide - 30-40 mg / kg body weight per day;
- Ethambutol - 15-25 mg / kg body weight per day.
Sometimes the treatment of tuberculosis
Treatment of tuberculosis - a lengthy process and requires constant monitoring
Corticosteroids are used in children, most often - prednisone. Usually prescribed dose, according to the rate of 1-2 mg / kg body weight per day; course of corticosteroids lasts from four to six weeks. Corticosteroids may be necessary when the inflammation associated with tuberculosis, lead to significant tissue damage or malfunction of the affected organs; They are also used when enlarged lymph nodes leads to breathing problems, but in such cases, treatment usually lasts less than four weeks.
Such treatment is in most cases very effective; the effectiveness of isoniazid, for example, according to the results of numerous studies, is close to 100%.
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Symptoms of TB in children may be considerably less pronounced in a few weeks after starting treatment, but for the complete recovery of the body need much more time.
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It is important for successful treatment is to follow the doctor's recommendations. Unfortunately, cases where treatment has not given a positive result is still not uncommon, and often becomes a cause of the inability of parents to see to it that the children regularly took drugs.
Great importance and preventive treatment of TB in children. As we have said, by itself tubercle bacillus in children is not dangerous - it can be for many years or even a lifetime do not have any influence on the health of the patient. However, if the child has an increased risk of tuberculosis open, it can be assigned to prophylactic treatment. For example, to prevent tuberculosis
Tuberculosis - a full recovery is not guaranteed
infants with low birth weight, typically used INH (10 mg / kg body weight per day).
