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New estimates show higher TB rate in children

New estimates indicate that over 650,000 children develop tuberculosis (TB) every year in the 22 countries with a high burden of the disease (HBCs) – almost 25% higher than the 530,000 total number worldwide estimated by the [b]World Health Organisation[/b] in 2012. [s]Science Daily[/s] reports that the research also suggests that about 15m children are exposed to TB every year, and roughly 53m are living with latent TB infection, which can progress to infectious active TB at any time. The research found that India had by far the highest burden of childhood TB, accounting for 27% of the total burden in these countries. The overall estimated case detection rate was only 35%, lead author Dr Peter Dodd from the [b]University of Sheffield[/b] in the [b]UK[/b] said.

Bedaquiline is the first new anti-TB drug in 40 years to have been given approval by the [b]US Food and Drug Administration[/b]. But, reports [s]Medical News Today[/s], the [b]Community Research Advisors Group (CRAG)[/b], an international community-based advisory board for the [b]Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Tuberculosis Trials Consortium[/b], have argued that bedaquiline has several safety concerns that need addressing. They said that the concerns need to be dealt with prior to the drug being tested on people who have developed drug-resistant TB.

[link url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140708185724.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_health+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Health+News%29]Full Science Daily report [/link]
[link url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(14)70245-1/fulltext]The Lancet Global Health article summary[/link]
[link url=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279465.php]Full Medical News Today report[/link]

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