Pediatric Tuberculosis Diagnosis

Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis involves several steps to determine if a child has TB. It starts with a medical history and physical examination by a doctor. The most common tests include a skin test (Mantoux test) or a blood test to check for TB infection. If these tests indicate TB, further imaging, like a chest X-ray, may be done to see if the lungs are affected. Sometimes, a sample of sputum or other fluids is tested for the bacteria. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and to prevent the spread of TB to others.