3.3.3.1. HIV-negative household and close contacts of a person with pulmonary TB: infants and children aged under 5 years

Children aged under 5 years who are household contacts of a person with bacteriologically confirmed PTB are usually identified through contact investigation or visits to health care facilities. They should be screened for TB symptoms (current cough, fever, not eating well or anorexia, weight loss or failure to thrive, fatigue, reduced playfulness, decreased activity). Those with any one of the symptoms should be evaluated for TB disease, while those who are asymptomatic should be offered TPT. For asymptomatic household contacts aged under 5 years, testing for TB infection by TST or IGRA or CXR is not required before initiating TPT.

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