Take 5: TB, travel and children

Children under five travelling to regions where there is a very high incidence of tuberculosis should be immunised

Children under five travelling to regions where there is a very high incidence of tuberculosis should be immunised.

While incidence of TB is low in Australia, the disease is still prevalent in South East Asia and Africa, says Dr Nigel Crawford, paediatrician and medical head of immunisation services at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

“Those that are at risk are those of any age … who are going to a country where it is endemic,” he says. “It is very hard to know if a person coughing does have tuberculosis.”

However, the risk of contracting tuberculosis is highest for younger children, particularly those who are staying more than four to six weeks.

“We consider [the BCG vaccine] in Australia for children who are travellers who are under five years of age,” says Dr Crawford.

BCG vaccination is routinely given to newborns in many countries with high rates of TB infection, including India, China and Indonesia.

“It is a once-in-a-lifetime vaccination that has around 70% efficacy at preventing tuberculosis,” says Dr Crawford.

In this video, Dr Crawford discusses:

• Is TB relevant to travellers, especially children?
• Where can TB immunisation be obtained?
• Take home messages regarding TB and travel?