The incidence of tuberculosis in children in Tatarstan is not decreasing
In Tatarstan, the share of sick children among the total number of patients with tuberculosis does not decrease, as was stated at a press conference in the Tatar-Inform News Agency by the deputy chief doctor for childhood of the Republican Clinical Tuberculosis Treatment and Prevention Clinic Ramzia Fatykhova.
"The proportion of sick children in the general structure of patients does not decrease. Every year, more than 3.5 thousand children with latent tuberculosis infection are detected," the speaker noted.
Since the maternity hospitals of the Republic continued to vaccinate infants against tuberculosis, despite the Covid-restrictions, the incidence among young children did not increase. During the first half of the year, the detection rate of tuberculosis among minors decreased by half. Still, during the remaining time, doctors managed to cover a sufficient number of children, preventing the development of severe forms of the disease.
"During 2020, all children and adolescents, except for one teenager, were identified prophylactically. Children in 100% of cases were diagnosed with immunodiagnostics. This fact once again proves the need for mandatory immunodiagnostics for children," the doctor stressed.
Dr. Fatyhova also recalled that the Mantoux test and diaskintest are screening tests. It helps to detect the presence of mycobacteria in the baby at the stage when it is possible to prevent tuberculosis development.
At the same time, the doctor regretfully admitted that the number of people refusing screening increases on average annually by 2 thousand people. "A little more than 12 thousand of those who refused and almost 70% of them are examined by an alternative method. About 4 thousand throughout the Republic of Tatarstan are those who were not examined. Most of them are unorganized children," said the deputy chief physician.
Specialists working with tuberculosis, encourage parents to regularly check their children with a screening method.
https://www.tatar-inform.ru/news/health/24-03-2021/zabolevaemost-detey-tuberkulezom-v-tatarstane-ne-snizhaetsya-5814930