Prevalence of Tuberculosis in children using Gene Xpert on Gastric lavage samples

Background Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), affects the lungs, kidneys, spine, and brain, has a significant global health challenge affecting 10–20% of children. Zambia is ranked in thirty countries with heavy burden. Early detection and intervention are crucial for managing the disease and preventing its progression to severe forms. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of tuberculosis among children aged 0 to 10 years at the Arthur Davison Children's Hospital in Ndola, Zambia. The study specifically focused on children with coughs, and the preferred gastric lavage technique was used for sampling. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted, we enrolled 138 children who were assessed using a structured questionnaire. To diagnosis TB, we employed x-rays and GeneXpert analysis of gastric lavage samples collected from January 2022 to February 2022. Results The results revealed that out of the 138 participants, 119 (86.2%) tested negative for mycobacterium tuberculosis, while 19 (13.8%) tested positive. GeneXpert detected 2 out of the 19 positives (1.4%), whereas chest x-ray identified all 19 positive cases (100%). Males showed a higher prevalence of MTB (52.6%) compared to females (47.4%), and the 0–4 age group had a higher MTB prevalence of 13 cases (68.4%) compared to 6 cases (31.6%) in the 5–10 age group. Conclusion In conclusion, the study showed a low prevalence of MTB (1.4%) in children under 10 years when using GeneXpert with gastric lavage samples. However, chest x-ray outperformed GeneXpert in detecting positive cases. The potential issues with the cumbersome process and the influence of gastric lavage sample acidity raise concerns about GeneXpert's effectiveness as the preferred choice for TB diagnosis in this population.