Publications by authors named "Paulo Mejan"
Objective: Pharmacokinetic variability drives tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes but measurement of serum drug concentrations for personalised dosing is inaccessible for children in TB-endemic settings. We compared rifampin urine excretion for prediction of a serum target associated with treatment outcome.
Design: Prospective diagnostic accuracy study.
Article Synopsis
- - At least one-third of tuberculosis (TB) cases go undiagnosed, particularly affecting children and adolescents, which complicates efforts to eliminate the disease globally.
- - A study conducted in rural Tanzania found that children with TB experienced respiratory symptoms for an average of 85 days before receiving treatment, with a significant number coming from households with TB exposure.
- - Interviews with families revealed that 94% of the 16 families reported TB severely impacted their children's education, highlighting the need for better screening to reduce symptom duration and school absenteeism.
Distinct from quantifying the economic sequelae of tuberculosis (TB) in adults, data are scarce regarding lived experiences of youth and their caregivers seeking and sustaining TB treatment in low income communities. Children ages 4-17 diagnosed with TB and their caregivers were recruited from rural and semi-urban northern Tanzania. Using a grounded theory approach, a qualitative interview guide was developed, informed by exploratory research.
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