Developmental and Environmental Vulnerabilities among Children with Tuberculosis: A Matched Case Control Study from Central India
1
Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS , BHOPAL, Bhopal, India
2
Pediatrics, AIIMS, Bhopal, Bhopal, India
3
Department of Epidemiology, ICMR , NIREH, Bhopal, India
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2217
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Early childhood development is as important as physical health in both normal children and children infected with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis affects children across all ages and stages of development, ranging from mild to severe forms. Treatment involves a prolonged and demanding course for both the child and caregiver, even in milder disease. The chronic nature of tuberculosis and its treatment may influence child development depending on age, severity of illness, duration treatment, and caregiver involvement. Evidence on the developmental impact of tuberculosis in affected children remains limited for low-resource settings. This study aimed to assess development and its determinants among children with tuberculosis and compare them with age-matched controls..
METHODS:
A matched case–control study was conducted among 174 children with TB and 174 age-matched controls across rural , urban and tribal districts of Madhya Pradesh, India Quantitative assessments included cognitive functioning using Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) and Crichton Vocabulary Scale (CVS) for children aged 4 to 10 and Bhatia Raven’s CPM (Colour Progressive Matrices)/CVS (Crichton Vocabulary Scale) ^1and Bhatia's Battery of Performance Test of Intelligence for children for children aged 11- 14 years.^2
RESULTS:
Age matching between cases and controls was adequate (mean age difference 0.28 ± 0.57 years). Cognitive outcomes assessed through Raven’s CPM and CVS did not differ significantly between cases and controls. Overall home environment scores were largely comparable across groups except the age group of 6-10 where TB patients had significantly impoverished environments using the HOME Inventory.^3 The IQ scores were also comparable among cases and controls.
CONCLUSIONS:
While paediatric TB was not associated with significant differences in measured cognitive outcomes, the broader developmental context revealed important vulnerabilities, particularly among school-aged children. These findings underscore the need for integrated, home-based developmental interventions addressing social and environmental determinants alongside clinical care in children affected by tuberculosis.
Early childhood development is as important as physical health in both normal children and children infected with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis affects children across all ages and stages of development, ranging from mild to severe forms. Treatment involves a prolonged and demanding course for both the child and caregiver, even in milder disease. The chronic nature of tuberculosis and its treatment may influence child development depending on age, severity of illness, duration treatment, and caregiver involvement. Evidence on the developmental impact of tuberculosis in affected children remains limited for low-resource settings. This study aimed to assess development and its determinants among children with tuberculosis and compare them with age-matched controls..
METHODS:
A matched case–control study was conducted among 174 children with TB and 174 age-matched controls across rural , urban and tribal districts of Madhya Pradesh, India Quantitative assessments included cognitive functioning using Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) and Crichton Vocabulary Scale (CVS) for children aged 4 to 10 and Bhatia Raven’s CPM (Colour Progressive Matrices)/CVS (Crichton Vocabulary Scale) ^1and Bhatia's Battery of Performance Test of Intelligence for children for children aged 11- 14 years.^2
RESULTS:
Age matching between cases and controls was adequate (mean age difference 0.28 ± 0.57 years). Cognitive outcomes assessed through Raven’s CPM and CVS did not differ significantly between cases and controls. Overall home environment scores were largely comparable across groups except the age group of 6-10 where TB patients had significantly impoverished environments using the HOME Inventory.^3 The IQ scores were also comparable among cases and controls.
CONCLUSIONS:
While paediatric TB was not associated with significant differences in measured cognitive outcomes, the broader developmental context revealed important vulnerabilities, particularly among school-aged children. These findings underscore the need for integrated, home-based developmental interventions addressing social and environmental determinants alongside clinical care in children affected by tuberculosis.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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