Genetics of childhood tuberculosis: A scoping review.

The social determinants of tuberculosis (TB) are well established. However, evidence indicates that genetic variants may also significantly influence an individual's susceptibility to or resistance to TB. The risk of TB is connected to polymorphisms in genes related to immunity and inflammation. While there is a growing body of evidence regarding the effect of candidate genes on the host immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in adults, available information on children remains limited. To investigate this topic, we searched electronic databases, including PubMed Central, the Virtual Health Library (encompassing MEDLINE, Lilacs, and WPRIM), Scopus, Scielo, EBSCOhost, and Embase. After applying the relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified 24 eligible studies. These studies aimed to explain how specific genetic variations may affect predisposition to Mtb infection, their critical role in modulating the immune response, and their impact on the clinical progression of TB.