Ocular Toxicity of Ethambutol During Both Intensive and Continuation Phases of Anti-Tubercular Therapy in Children

Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the ocular toxicity of ethambutol given in both intensive and continuation phases of treatment in children with drug-sensitive tuberculosis. Methods: A prospective study of 94 eyes from 47 patients receiving an ethambutol-containing regimen was conducted between 1 December, 2018 and 31 August, 2020. Visual acuity, visual field, visual evoked response (VER), contrast sensitivity, colour perception, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness [using optical coherence tomography (OCT)] were tested for each patient before, during, and after the treatment. Results: On follow-up, visual acuity, color vision, contrast sensitivity, fundus, and visual fields were not affected in any of the patients. There was no statistically significant increase in the mean latency of the P(100) wave at any point in time. On OCT, no significant loss of mean RNFL thickness was detected. Conclusions: Ethambutol is safe to use up to a dose of 20 mg/kg/day throughout the entire course of anti-tubercular therapy in children with drug-sensitive tuberculosis

Outcome of COVID-19 in Children With Tuberculosis: Single-Center Experience

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in children and adolescents with tuberculosis. Methods: We analyzed hospital records for the period May, 2020 to September, 2021 for children who were severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive or SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive. They were divided into two groups viz., those with tuberculosis (tuberculosis group) and those without tuberculosis (non-TB group). Demographic information, symptoms, and outcomes of COVID-19 were compared between the two groups. Results: Median (IQR) age of participants was 11 (8,14) and 4.5 (2,9) year for the tuberculosis and non-TB groups, respectively. 93.5% and 36.1% of children were asymptomatic in the tuberculosis and non-TB group, respectively. No variable in the study was significantly associated with COVID-19 positivity in children with tuberculosis. No difference was found in the outcomes of COVID-19 infection in children having tuberculosis. Conclusions: No differences were noted in the outcomes of COVID19 infection in children having tuberculosis.