[Comprehensiveness of LTBI treatment in individuals under 18 years old].

INTRODUCTION

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in children under 18 years of age is a mandatorily notifiable condition for which tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) is recommended. However, the comprehensiveness of TPT has yet to be extensively analyzed. We report on the experience of the Alpes-Maritimes Tuberculosis Control Center.

OBSERVATION: In 2023 and 2024 in the Alpes-Maritimes department, 284 LTBIs in children under 18 years of age were detected and reported. LTBI was linked to the screening of unaccompanied minor migrants (UMMs) (256 children), to an investigation on the case of a tuberculosis patient (20 children), and to the screening of minor migrants accompanied by their parents (eight children). The median age and sex ratio (M/F) differed between the UMM group and the "case investigation" and "accompanied minors" groups, with respectively 16 years and 9.7 for the UMMs, 11 years and 0.8 for the "case investigation" group, and 12 years and 0.6 for the "accompanied minors" group (P<0.05). TPT completeness was 54% in the UMMs, and 100% in the other two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

TPT comprehensiveness was high among minors who were surrounded by their parents, but less satisfactory among UMMs.