Vitamin D and Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Schoolchildren

Abstract

The World Health Organization has adopted the global TB strategy for the period of 2016-2035. To achieve its targets, it is necessary to propose and introduce new approaches for the prevention and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in children and adolescents, as a potential source of active tuberculosis development. In this regard, the use of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) may become promising in combating tuberculosis, since most researchers suppose an adequate level of cholecalciferol to have a positive preventive and therapeutic effect in children with active and latent tuberculosis. So far the use of vitamin D may be appropriate, especially in children not adequately provided with vitamin D. The paper presents the results of the vitamin D levels study before and after prescribing cholecalciferol, as well as the dynamics of the tuberculin skin tests in school-age LTBI children receiving preventive treatment with anti-TB drugs. At the initial examination, a normal level of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D) was not detected in any child. After 3 months of administration of vitamin D in therapeutic doses, a normal concentration of 25(OH)D was observed in 52% of the children examined repeatedly. Analysis of the tuberculin skin test dynamics showed 47.6% of children to have a negative/doubtful test result after 3 months of treatment with anti-TB drugs and vitamin D. In 9.5% of patients, the size of the papule did not change during treatment. It is important to note that in these children, the 25(OH)D level also did not increase. А vitamin D intake at a therapeutic dosage did not cause hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria in any child. LTBI children are inadequately provided with cholecalciferol. There fore it is necessary to determine the level of vitamin D in the blood, then to prescribe the vitamin D, regardless of the time of year, along with standard therapy for a more effective outcome of LTBI treatment and prevention of active forms of tuberculosis in the future.