New tool could help spot TB in starving children
NCT ID NCT04240990
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study involved 603 hospitalized children aged 2 to 59 months with severe acute malnutrition in Uganda and Zambia. Researchers tested various diagnostic methods—including chest X-rays, lab cultures, and symptom checks—to develop a score that helps doctors decide whether a child has tuberculosis. The goal is to improve TB diagnosis in this vulnerable group, where standard tests often fail.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could give doctors a simple tool to diagnose tuberculosis more accurately in severely malnourished children, potentially saving lives.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. The score may not be accurate enough for widespread use, and results may not apply to other settings or populations.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Arthur Davidson Children Hospital
Ndola, Zambia
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Lusaka University Teaching Hospital
Lusaka, Zambia
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Mulago National Referral Hospital
Kampala, Uganda
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Could a 3-Month TB cocktail replace the standard 6-Month regimen?