Research from the Desmond Tutu TB Centre at Stellenbosch University informs changes to WHO guidelines for the management of tuberculosis in children and adolescents globally
Submitted by
Stellenbosch University.
Summary of the impact:
In 2022 the World Health Organization (WHO) released their updated guidelines and operational handbook for the management of tuberculosis in children and adolescents. Of the eight new recommendations in these guidelines, four were directly informed by data generated by the multi-disciplinary team of researchers at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre (DTTC). Additionally a chapter on post-TB health was included in the handbook for the first time, an effort which was led by clinicians from DTTC in collaboration with Stellenbosch University colleagues, and a review to contextualise the WHO recommendations was also supported by researchers in the DTTC. These guidelines have global impact with the potential to increase the number of children and adolescents identified, diagnosed and successfully treated for tuberculosis and to support them to access treatment regimens that are acceptable, can be given at home, taken for a shorter duration and with fewer side-effects.