What is the cost of diagnosing a new sputum smear positive TB case in children in low income setting
Center for Rapid Evidence Synthesis (ACRES)DRRES-23
This Rapid Response should be cited as
ACRES (2011) What is the cost of diagnosing a new sputum smear positive TB case in children in low income settings; A Rapid Response Brief. Kampala: The Center for Rapid Evidence Synthesis
Summary
Background: Diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in children, particularly sputum smear-positive TB, presents challenges in low-income countries. The process involves a series of steps including clinical examinations, tuberculin skin testing, and bacteriological confirmation. Findings: The cost of diagnosing a new case of sputum smear-positive TB in children varies widely. This cost is highly dependent on where services are obtained, ranging from almost no direct costs to as high as USD 125. Conclusion: The cost of diagnosing pediatric sputum smear-positive TB in low-income settings is highly variable and dependent on the healthcare services utilized.