Curve-TB

Duración

11/2025 - 02/2027

Coordinador

Lucía Carratalà Castro

Financiadores

INVEST-AEP

The aim of the CurveTB study is to increase tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis among children under five in Manhiça District, southern Mozambique, by systematically screening children with failure to thrive (FTT), an often-overlooked sign of TB.

The study will:

1. Estimate the prevalence of TB, including both bacteriologically confirmed and clinically diagnosed disease, among children with FTT.
2. Estimate the frequency of FTT detected through systematic screening in healthy child clinics.
3. Assess the impact on TB case notification among children under five of systematically screening with stool Xpert Ultra children with FTT

Children identified with FTT will undergo clinical assessment, chest X-ray, stool testing with Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and urine collection for TB-LAM. Participants will then be followed for up to six months to establish their final TB classification. By evaluating a systematic screening strategy in a high-burden setting, CurveTB aims to generate evidence to inform more effective approaches to closing the diagnostic gap in childhood TB.

Total Funding

25,500 €