Tuberculosis in children

Children with TB often acquired the infection from an adult. Children are particularly susceptible to invasive disease (miliary [disseminated] TB and tuberculous meningitis), especially if they have not received Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. Children are usually not infectious.

Standard short-course therapy is appropriate for children with TB. Compared to adults, higher mg/kg doses of some tuberculosis drugs are needed in children to achieve effective serum concentrations. Adverse effects are rare in children.