7.3.10.2: Attendance of Children with Latent Tuberculosis Infection or Active Tuberculosis Disease

Children with active tuberculosis disease may attend group child care once effective therapy has been instituted, adherence to therapy has been documented, and clinical symptoms are absent. Local health officials or a primary care provider may recommend return to out-of-home child care once a child is considered non-infectious to others.

Children, adolescents, and adults with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) (reactive tuberculin skin test [TST] or a positive interferon-gamma release assay [IGRA] without evidence of active tuberculosis disease) may attend group child care. Appropriate therapy in consultation with a primary care provider is recommended to prevent progression to active tuberculosis disease (1).

RATIONALE

Efforts to prevent transmission of tuberculosis in child care should focus on permitting children with active tuberculosis disease to attend group child care only after the child is considered non-infectious to others. Children with latent tuberculosis are not infectious to others and may attend group child care but should receive appropriate therapy.

COMMENTS

For additional information regarding tuberculosis, consult the current edition of the Red Book from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

RELATED STANDARDS

3.6.1.1 Inclusion/Exclusion/Dismissal of Ill Children
7.3.10.1 Measures for Detection, Control, and Reporting of Tuberculosis

REFERENCES

1. American Academy of Pediatrics. Latent Tuberculosis Infection In: Kimberlin DW, Brady MT, Jackson MA, Long SS, eds. Red Book: 2018 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 31st Edition. Itasca, IL:  American Academy of Pediatrics; 2018: 829-853, 108-109, 182, 831 , 832-835, 835t, 836t