TODAY IS WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY

We  join the global health community in commemorating World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2025, with the theme "*Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, invest, and deliver."* This day serves as a critical reminder of the urgent need to accelerate efforts toward TB elimination, particularly among children, who remain a vulnerable and often overlooked population in the fight against this disease.

 

Nigeria has the highest TB burden in Africa and the sixth highest in the world. Childhood TB cases in Nigeria was the fifth highest in the world in 2023. An estimated 59,000 children under 15 years develop TB, yet only 36,197 cases are notified, reflecting a treatment coverage gap of 39%. Additionally, 22,000 childhood TB cases were missed, highlighting the urgent need for improved case detection and linkage to treatment. 

 

Generally, low awareness and stigmatization continue to hinder early diagnosis and treatment of TB especially in children. To combat this, new evidence-based interventions to improve childhood TB diagnosis and care have been introduced. These include; WHO treatment decision algorithms, shorter TB treatment regimens (four months for non-severe TB), shorter TB preventive courses, free chest X-rays and transport vouchers, active case finding with focus on high-risk populations, use of GeneXpert MTB/RIF as the first-line diagnostic test, use of stool samples to diagnose TB in younger children and mandatory HIV testing for all children presumed to have TB.

 

We therefore calls on all healthcare workers and stakeholders to leverage these interventions for enhanced case detection and management, improve community awareness, and increase access to TB services for children. We call on the Government and development partners to sustain funding, accelerate research for child friendly formulations and support paediatric TB programs. 

#TogetherYesWeCanEndTB

#Commit!Invest!Deliver!

#WeFitDoAm!

DR CHIDI FIDELIS 

PRO

NAGGMDP 

DELTA STATE 

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious illness that mainly affects the lungs. The germs that cause tuberculosis are a type of bacteria.

Tuberculosis can spread when a person with the illness coughs, sneezes or sings. This can put tiny droplets with the germs into the air. Another person can then breathe in the droplets, and the germs enter the lungs.

Tuberculosis spreads easily where people gather in crowds or where people live in crowded conditions. People with HIV/AIDS and other people with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of catching tuberculosis than people with typical immune systems.

Medicines called antibiotics can treat tuberculosis. But some forms of the bacteria no longer respond well to treatments.

• Not feeling well in general.
• Pain near the site of infection.

Active TB disease in the voice box is outside the lungs, but it has symptoms more like disease in the lungs.

Common sites of active TB disease outside the lungs include:

• Kidneys.
• Liver.
• Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• Heart muscles.
• Genitals.
• Lymph nodes.
• Bones and joints.
• Skin.
• Walls of blood vessels.
• Voice box, also called larynx.

Active TB disease in children. Symptoms of active TB disease in children vary. Typically, symptoms by age may include the following:

• Teenagers. Symptoms are similar to adult symptoms.
• 1- to 12-year-olds. Younger children may have a fever that won't go away and weight loss.
• Infants.The baby doesn't grow or gain weight as expected. Also, a baby may have symptoms from swelling in the fluid around the brain or spinal cord, including:
  • Being sluggish or not active.
  • Unusually fussy.
  • Vomiting.
  • Poor feeding.
  • Bulging soft spot on the head.
  • Poor reflexes.

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When to see a doctor

The symptoms of tuberculosis are similar to symptoms of many different illnesses. See your healthcare professional if you have symptoms that don't improve with a few days of rest.

Get emergency care if you have:

• Chest pain.
• Sudden, severe headache.
• Confusion.
• Seizures.
• Difficulty breathing.

Get immediate or urgent care if you:

• Cough up blood.
• Have blood in your urine or stool.