Under NTEP, a 5-year-old child who is a household contact of a sputum-positive pulmonary TB patient and has a positive tuberculin skin test is eligible for TB preventive therapy. Which regimen is preferred?
- A Isoniazid for 6 months
- B Isoniazid plus rifapentine weekly for 3 months ✓
- C Rifampicin for 4 months
- D Isoniazid plus rifampicin for 3 months
Correct answer: B. Isoniazid plus rifapentine weekly for 3 months
Explanation
Under NTEP, the preferred TB preventive therapy regimen for household contacts aged under 6 years is 3HP, which is weekly isoniazid plus rifapentine for 3 months. Isoniazid for 6 months is an alternative. The 3HP regimen is preferred due to shorter duration and better compliance. This is a recent update in NTEP guidelines.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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