In Canada, children and adolescents under 15 years of age account for less than 5% of all cases of tuberculosis (TB) reported annually; however, those born outside of Canada (or with a parent born outside of Canada) and Indigenous children are disproportionately affected. The clinical presentation and diagnosis of TB in children and adolescents differs compared to adults and requires a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.
This PHO Rounds will provide a brief summary of the recent epidemiology of TB in Ontario, with a focus on the epidemiology of pediatric TB. It will then provide an overview of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric TB, including latent TB infection (LTBI). Key considerations with respect to the local public health management of TB in children and adolescents will also be addressed through case studies from Peel Public Health.
Intended Audience
- Public health staff (Associate/Medical Officers of Health, epidemiologists, nurses, microbiologists)
- Health care providers (e.g., physicians, nurse practitioners) interested in public health aspects of tuberculosis in pediatric populations.
By the end of this event, participants will be able to:
- Describe the recent epidemiology of TB in Ontario, including in children aged 0-17 years;
- Identify aspects of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management unique to pediatric TB;
- Identify key aspects of public health management unique to pediatric TB, including source case finding and contact investigations
- Consider how collaboration between local public health organizations and clinicians can support TB case and contact investigation involving children.
Presenter(s): Andrea Saunders, RN MSc; Ian Kitai, MB, BCh, FRCPC; Rainka Joshi, RN, HonBSc, BScN; Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCPC
Andrea Saunders, RN MSc is a Communicable Diseases Specialist in the Health Protection department at PHO. She has worked as both a nurse and an epidemiologist in TB prevention and care at the local, provincial, and federal levels, and is a graduate of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Field Epidemiology Program.
Ian Kitai, MB, BCh, FRCPC trained in Medicine in South Africa, in Paediatrics in the UK and in Paediatric Infectious Diseases in Toronto. He worked for Oxfam (UK) in rural Zimbabwe and with the Northern Medical Unit of the University of Manitoba. He is the Tuberculosis Specialist at SickKids, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto and has been first or senior author of the pediatric chapters of the 6th, 7th and 8th editions of the Canadian TB standards.
Rainka Joshi, RN, HonBSc, BScN is the Manager of the Tuberculosis Program at Peel Public Health. She worked as a pediatric nurse for more than a decade before becoming a public health nurse within vaccine preventable diseases and tuberculosis case management.
Dr. Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCPC is an Associate Medical Officer of Health at Peel Public Health where she is responsible for the TB, sexual health, and hepatitis portfolios within the Communicable Diseases Division. Dr. Hovhannisyan graduated from the Yerevan State Medical University in Armenia, and completed her residency training in Public Health and Preventive Medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton. Gayane also has a PhD in Epidemiology from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto where she also has an academic appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer.
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.
Accreditation
Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check “Yes” beside the question “Do you require CME credits?” on the registration form.
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Affiliate Members may count RCPSC credits toward their Mainpro+ credit requirements. All other CFPC members may claim up to 50 Certified credits per cycle for participation in RCPSC MOC Section 1 accredited activities.
PHO Rounds are also approved by the Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).
For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.
Accessibility
Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.
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