Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis in pediatrics: a reflection on the role of IGRAs

Abstract

[Tuberculosis is transmitted through the inhalation of droplets containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). It is estimated that approximately 10 million new cases occur annually, of which 1 million affect children, representing approximately 10% of the total. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) occurs when adaptive immunity fails to destroy the bacilli within the pulmonary alveoli, leading to the persistence of these organisms in a latent phase within macrophages. The diagnosis of LTBI is based on the exclusion of the active form of the disease and a positive PPD or IGRA result. The proposed study consisted of a quantitative research project using an integrative review as its method, guided by the following research question: What is the role of the IGRA as a diagnostic tool for LTBI in the pediatric population? The search terms used were: “latent tuberculosis,” “interferon gamma release assay,” and “children.” Based on the criteria established for the integrative review, 18 studies published between 2019 and 2024 were selected. A table was included showing the distribution of the included articles according to title, author, and year; study type; location; objectives; clinical and epidemiological characteristics; and results]