04 Dec

Request for submissions: Child DR-TB stories

PDF Cover Pic

The stories submission page for Phase II of the Sentinel Project on Pediatric Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis is now live! Check it out here.

As the January 24th deadline approaches, we are still working to collect stories from as many countries as possible to highlight in our next report, which will be launched on World TB Day, March 2013.  Please help us identify stories of children with DR-TB to highlight in our report.  It can be a child who died with or without treatment, or a good outcome — we are gathering both.

Alternatively, if you do not personally know of any cases, but know of a colleague who might, please pass this request along and refer them to the new “submissions page” of the Sentinel Project website.  There are links available on the submissions page where they can download the story collection framework document in English (attached), French, Spanish and Russian — this framework includes a consent form and details the type of information we are looking to include in the stories we collect.

We look forward to working together to advocate for better drugs and drug formulations, diagnostics, and access to care for children with DR-TB!

Stories and/or completed frameworks can be sent to

se**************@hm*.edu











 and questions directed to Lindsay McKenna at

Li*************@tr******************.org











.

14 Nov

Workshop 06: Preventing child deaths from drug resistant tuberculosis

Wednesday, 14 November 2012, 9:00 – 12:30, Room: 409

43rd Union World Conference on Lung Health, 13-17 November 2012, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Workshop sponsored by Médecins Sans Frontières

Description

Children with drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) are a population who have been largely overlooked by TB programmes as well as by international policy makers and researchers. There is an urgent need to address this gap. This workshop aims to provide participants with an update on recent initiatives targeting DR-TB in children, as well as demonstrating practical approaches to overcome current challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, this workshop will review the research agenda, including studies that are planned or on-going, define what the urgent needs are and discuss how participants can become actively involved.

Presentations

1. An introduction to the Sentinel Project on Paediatric Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

Mercedes Becerra (USA)

2. Research meeting the needs of children with DR-TB: an update on progress

Soumya Swaminathan (India)

3. Introducing DR-TB diagnosis and treatment for children into TB programmes: a case study from Tajikistan

Bern-Thomas Nyang’wa (UK)

4. The use of practical tools and approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of children with DR-TB

James Seddon (UK)

5. Children in the evolving TB epidemic: future perspectives and priorities

Ben Marais (Australia)

Coordinators: Grania Brigden (UK), Mercedes Becerra (USA)

Chair: Stephen M. Graham (Australia)

02 Sep

Caring for children with drug-resistant tuberculosis: Practice-based recommendations

The management of children with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is challenging, and it is likely that in many places, the roll-out of molecular diagnostic testing will lead to more children being diagnosed. There is a limited evidence base to guide optimal treatment and follow-up in the pediatric population; in existing DR-TB guidelines, the care of children is often relegated to small “special populations” sections.

This article seeks to address this gap by providing clinicians with practical advice and guidance. This is achieved through review of the available literature on pediatric DR-TB, including research studies and international guidelines, combined with consensus opinion from a team of experts who have extensive experience in the care of children with DR-TB in a wide variety of contexts and with varying resources. The review covers treatment initiation, regimen design and treatment duration, management of comorbid conditions, treatment monitoring, adverse events, adherence promotion, and infection control, all within a multidisciplinary environment.

Read more about it here.

Full Reference: Seddon JA, Furin JJ, Gale M, Del Castillo Barrientos H, Hurtado RM, Amanullah F, Ford N, Starke JR, Schaaf HS. Caring for children with drug-resistant tuberculosis: Practice-based recommendations. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2012; 186(10):953-964.

Download the PDF here.

20 Mar

Being brave: Stories of children with drug-resistant tuberculosis

When it comes to drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB), the global community is failing to “get it right.” Millions of people around the world suffer from this dangerous, yet treatable, infectious disease. Yet, in over a decade, less than 1% of those with DR-TB have been diagnosed and treated.* Children bear a disproportionate burden of this disease, and are far less likely than adults with DR-TB to have access to appropriate care.

This collection of stories gives voice to the children from around the world featured in it, and to the thousands more like them who face the challenges of fighting DR-TB every day. It is also a global call to action. These stories invite all of us to join children with DRTB and their families and caregivers in the struggle for better diagnosis and treatment. It is the first step toward “getting it right” for children with TB.

“Being Brave: Stories of Children with Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis” (March, 2012)