Skip to main content
Log in

Intermittent short course therapy for pediatric tuberculosis

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Indian Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We conducted this study to assess the efficacy of intermittent short course therapy in all forms of pediatric tuberculosis using a coordinated approach with Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). Sixty-five children were treated using RNTCP protocols with some modifications, such as dose adjustments or prolongation of treatment in selected children. Overall response rate was 95% (pulmonary 94% and extra pulmonary 97%). There was one case with possible relapse. With dynamic inputs from both the treating pediatrician and personnel from Directly Observed Treatment — Short-course (DOTS) centers, we could successfully implement RNTCP protocols in childhood tuberculosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Chauhan LS, Arora VK. Management of pediatric tuberculosis under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) — The consensus statement. Indian Pediatr 2004; 41: 901–905.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kumar L, Dhand R, Singhi PD, Rao LN, Katariya S. A randomized trial of fully intermittent vs daily followed by intermittent short course chemotherapy for childhood tuberculosis. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1990; 19: 802–806.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hong Kong Chest Service, British Medical Research Council. Controlled trial of four thriceweekly regimens and daily regimen all given for six months for pulmonary tuberculosis. Lancet 1981; 8213: 171–174.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Varudkar BL. Short-course chemotherapy for tuberculosis in children. Indian J Pediatr 1985; 52: 593–597.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Te Water Naude JM, Donald PR, Hussey GD, Kibel MA, Louw A, Perkins DR, et al. Twice weekly vs daily chemotherapy for childhood tuberculosis. Pediatr Infect Dis 2000; 19: 405–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Göçmen A, Ozçelic U, Kiper N, Toppare M, Kaya S, Cengizlier R, et al. Short course intermittent chemotherapy in childhood tuberculosis. Infection 1993; 21: 324–327.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Jawahar MS, Rajaram K, Sivasubramanian S, Paramasivan CN, Chandracekar K, Kamaludeen MN, et al. Treatment of lymph node tuberculosis- a randomized clinical trial of two 6-month regimens. Trop Med Int Health 2005; 10: 1090–1098.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Arora VK, Gupta R. Directly observed treatment for tuberculosis. Indian J Pediatr 2003; 70: 885–889.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Anadol D, Kiper N, Gocmen A, Ozcelik U. Intermittent chemotherapy for miliary tuberculosis in children. Turk J Pediatr 1999; 41: 53–59.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Rajeswari R, Sivasubramanian S, Balambal R, Parthasarathy R, Ranjar R, Santha T, et al. A controlled clinical trial of short-course chemotherapy for tuberculoma of the brain. Tuber Lung Dis 1995; 76: 311–317.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Venugopal K. Therapeutic efficacy of fully intermittent regimen for neuro TB-A field study in South India. Pulmon 2006; 8; 89–92.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lodha R, Menon PR, Kabra SK. Concerns on the dosing of antitubercular drugs for children in RNTCP. Indian Pediatr 2008; 45: 852–854.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kabra SK, Lodha R, Seth V. Category based treatment of tuberculosis in children. Indian Pediatr 2004; 41: 927–937.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Jacobs RF, Sunacorn P, Chotpttayasunonah TC, Pope S, Kelleher K. Intensive short course chemotherapy for tuberculous meningitis. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1992; 11: 194–198.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Van Loenhout-Rooyackers JH, Keyser A, Laheij JF, Varbeek ALM, Van der meer JWM. Tuberculous meningitis: is a 6-month treatment regimen sufficient? Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2001; 5: 1028–1035.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. K. Indumathi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Indumathi, C.K., Kumar Prasanna, K., Dinakar, C. et al. Intermittent short course therapy for pediatric tuberculosis. Indian Pediatr 47, 93–96 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0012-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0012-7

Key words

Navigation