HIV-associated pediatric tuberculosis: prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The detrimental synergy of colliding HIV and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics is most devastating among children and adolescents living with HIV (CALWH) who shoulder a disproportionate burden of all child TB mortality.

RECENT FINDINGS: CALWH benefit less from Bacille-Calmette Guerin vaccination than HIV-uninfected children and are not receiving TB preventive therapy despite global recommendations. Further, the predictive utility of most diagnostic tools is reduced in CALWH. Finally, antiretroviral and anti-TB drug interactions continue to complicate cotreatment for children. Despite these challenges, recent data fuel a new awareness of TB as a hidden cause of child mortality and a renewed commitment to TB prevention. New diagnostic approaches using existing tools with novel specimens, such as stool, may improve the diagnosis of TB in CALWH. Further, pharmacokinetic studies and the development of new drug formulations promise better treatment options for CALWH in the near future.

SUMMARY: With the awareness that TB is the leading cause of mortality among CALWH, comes a responsibility to accelerate research to prevent, diagnose and treat TB in this vulnerable population. In the present, we must adopt evidence-based preventive and treatment strategies to enhance outcomes of CALWH and combating TB.