Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of
morbidity and mortality of children in tuberculosisendemic
areas1. Based on vital registration data, World
Health Organization (WHO) in 2014, estimated that 1
million children (and 140,000 die each year, representing 10% and 9% of
global caseload and mortality, respectively2. This
“merciless disease” exists in the shadow of adult TB and
children particularly those under 5 years of age, who
came in contact with smear positive adult TB cases and
who suffers from malnutrition and HIV infection are the
most vulnerable group to acquire tuberculosis3. Childhood
TB (CTB) remains a neglected aspect of the TB epidemic,
despite its contribution to 20% or more of the TB caseload
in many countries with high TB incidence2. Among
the 4,452,860 new cases reported in 2010 by the 22 highest
TB burden countries, only 157,135, i.e. 3.5% (range, 0.1 to
15.0), were reported as CTB4. However, the best estimates
suggest that children (under 15 years of age) account for
approximately 11% of the total TB burden,reflecting that
just over 332,000 (7.5%) of CTB went undiagnosed or
unreported in these countries4-5