Health Workers Go the Extra Mile to Confirm TB Diagnosis

Katleho Ramolethi, is from Hanyane Village in Leribe, Lesotho. At just 1 year old, she is the youngest child of a family of five. In 2020, she started experiencing cough, fever, and loss of weight. Even after taking antibiotics, her symptoms persisted.  

Her mother took the child to the nearest facility, Motebang Hospital, where health workers took a sputum sample. Although laboratory testing suggested she was negative for tuberculosis (TB), health workers knew something was wrong, as the child had all the clinical symptoms of TB. They diligently conducted confirmatory test using the chest X-ray, which indicated that Katleho was suffering from pulmonary TB.  

The health workers initiated Kalteho on TB treatment, and the baby’s condition improved. In two weeks, she gained more than two pounds! 

The TB contact tracers at Motebang Hospital, ‘M’e ‘Matanki and ‘M’e Maphinda, also visited Katleho at home to screen other family members for TB. Fortunately, no one was exhibiting TB symptoms. However, as a precaution, one sibling, 7 years old, was initiated on TB preventative treatment. The baby and the child were both given two weeks doses of medication and told to come back to the facility to monitor their progress and get refills. 

After another two weeks, Katleho’s symptoms had subsided significantly, and she was healthy, bubbly, and playful again. She was given a supply medication for five months, at which point she will have completed her TB treatment.

Katleho’s story is yet another testament, to the diligence and hard work of health workers, who diagnose and enroll children on treatment. Children are alive and well today because of them.   

Through the Catalyzing Pediatric TB Innovations (CaP TB) project, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) is partnering with the Lesotho Ministry of Health to diagnose and treat TB in children.