Importance of Contact Tracing in the Management of Pediatric Tuberculosis in Some Diagnostic and Treatment Centers of the Centre Region of Cameroon.

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of death among children under the age of 5 years. In some resource-limited communities, contact tracing interventions are generally used to curb this problem. We aimed to assess the effect of contact tracing interventions on the management of pediatric TB in the Centre Region of Cameroon.

METHODS

The study was done in 14 diagnostic and treatment centers having a mixed urban-rural population with a high burden of TB. A mixed method including assessment of pediatric TB epidemiological trends, operational data from 2019 to 2024, coupled with healthcare worker perceptions of contact tracing.

RESULTS

Overall, 119 cases of TB were reported. After contact tracing, the number of TB cases rose to 34 in 2021 but dropped in the following years. Zero household investigations and no child under 5 years of age were recorded as TB contacts in 2019-2020, respectively, 779 and 963 in 2021-2024. In 2022, there was about 4.5-fold increase in the number of children identified as TB contacts (387). About 1465 children received TB preventive treatment from 2019 to 2024. After contact tracing, this number peaked at 400 in 2022. About 96% of the personnel responded that the project improved the management of TB.

CONCLUSIONS

Intensification of contact tracing activities and the decrease in TB diagnoses among children under 5 years of age strongly contributed to the prevention and control of the disease within this key population, aligning with the priorities of the World Health Organization End TB Strategy.