According to the WHO 2011
- 0.5 million TB cases in children
- 64,000 deaths in children
- This data likely underestimated the actual number of children with TB due to:
- There is no easy test for TB in children
- Most children have paucibacillary (having few bacilli) TB which is difficult to diagnosis with sputum smear
- Children also have a difficult time giving a sputum sample
- Diagnosis is made with clinical and non-specific tests making it difficult
- More research is needed for better testing in children, which the WHO is dedicated to
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