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TropicalMed
Special Issues
Tuberculosis Control in Africa and Asia
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Tuberculosis Control in Africa and Asia

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 3905

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Kobto Ghislain Koura

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 75001 Paris, France
2. UMR261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, IRD, 75006 Paris, France
Interests: public health and medicine; tuberculosis research and policy; operational research in Africa; nuts farming in Africa; video games

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tuberculosis continues to be a critical public health challenge globally, particularly in Asia and Africa, where the majority of cases occur. According to the latest Global Tuberculosis Report, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 10.6 million people (95% uncertainty interval: 9.9–11.4 million) fell ill with TB in 2022. Most TB cases were concentrated in the WHO regions of South East Asia (46%), Africa (23%), and the Western Pacific (18%), with smaller shares in the Eastern Mediterranean (8.1%), the Americas (3.1%), and Europe (2.2%).

The complexity of TB control is a global issue, impacted by several factors such as undernutrition, HIV infection, and others that transcend regional boundaries. In recent years, there have been significant advancements in TB treatment, including new drugs and shorter regimens, as well as the development of innovative diagnostic tools that have improved the accuracy and speed of TB detection.

These developments are crucial in the ongoing fight against TB, and this Special Issue seeks to highlight these breakthroughs alongside the persistent challenges. This issue combines cutting-edge research, policy analysis, and field experiences, highlighting the enduring challenges and the innovative strategies employed to combat TB in Asia and Africa. The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview that advances scientific understanding and informs practical interventions that can be implemented on the ground. By showcasing new treatments, diagnostic tools, and other innovations, we aim to illustrate the progress in TB control and the potential for these advancements to be applied across various contexts.

As Guest Editor, our vision is to curate a collection of articles exploring the epidemiological and clinical aspects of TB, the innovative approaches used in these settings to control TB, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to TB control. By bringing together experts from various fields, this issue aims to foster a deeper understanding of TB's impact in these regions and stimulate new ideas and collaborations that can drive progress toward TB elimination.

We invite colleagues to contribute their work to this issue, which we hope will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and public health practitioners. By addressing the specific challenges faced in Asia and Africa, we can make significant strides in the global effort to end TB.

Dr. Kobto Ghislain Koura
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • tuberculosis
  • epidemiology
  • innovative diagnostics
  • treatment
  • Africa
  • Asia

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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15 pages, 1092 KiB  
Article
Qualitative Study of Nutritional Support-Related Perceptions and Preferences Among Persons Affected by TB, Family Caregivers, and Healthcare Providers in India
by Balaji Ramraj, Karikalan Nagarajan, Debjani Ram Purakayastha, Major Madhukar, Makesh Kumar, Neha Raj, Sarath Kumar, Banappa S. Unger, Nithin Rajamani, Sampada Dipak Bangar, Murugesan Periyasamy, Hansraj Choudhary, Yasaswany Santhoshkumar, Ramesh Kumar, Seema Sahay, Nivedita Gupta and Chandrasekaran Padmapriyadarsini
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(4), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10040114 - 21 Apr 2025
Viewed by 483
Abstract
Evidence on the implementation aspects of nutritional support interventions for persons with TB in India is limited. This qualitative study employed focus group discussions with persons with TB (n = 71), their family caregivers (n = 17), and healthcare providers (n = 18). [...] Read more.
Evidence on the implementation aspects of nutritional support interventions for persons with TB in India is limited. This qualitative study employed focus group discussions with persons with TB (n = 71), their family caregivers (n = 17), and healthcare providers (n = 18). The study was conducted from August 2023 to April 2024 in five states in India. Participants’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices about nutritional intake, experiences, and expectations when accessing nutritional support were explored. Four nutrition-related themes emerged: (a) the experiences and perceptions of persons with tuberculosis and their caregivers, explained by their understanding of the importance of adequate nutrition and TB cures; (b) changes in food practices, explained by protein food adoption, alongside food insecurity experienced by those in poverty; (c) Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)-related issues, explained by insufficiency and access-related gaps; and (d) preferred choices for nutrition support delivery, explained by less preference towards the involvement of intermediaries and a public distribution system alongside preference for the provision of nutrition through treatment facilities. Our findings underscore the importance of the provision of protein-rich food and an increase in financial support based on needs assessments. Mitigating the linkage and access gaps in DBT is needed. The delivery of ready-to-consume food through tuberculosis treatment facilities could be prioritized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tuberculosis Control in Africa and Asia)
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15 pages, 835 KiB  
Article
Community-Based Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Among Child and Adolescent Household Contacts in Ethiopia
by Eshetu Abelti, Zewdu Dememew, Asfawesen Gebreyohannes, Yohannes Alemayehu, Tilay Terfassa, Taye Janfa, Degu Jerene, Pedro Suarez and Daniel Datiko
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(4), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10040102 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 457
Abstract
There are limited studies on the community-based outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment (TPT) among children and adolescent contacts <15 years in Ethiopia. Our objective was to assess TPT uptake and completion rates among eligible under-15-year-old TB household contacts through an enhanced community-based [...] Read more.
There are limited studies on the community-based outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment (TPT) among children and adolescent contacts <15 years in Ethiopia. Our objective was to assess TPT uptake and completion rates among eligible under-15-year-old TB household contacts through an enhanced community-based model of interventions. The study was conducted between July 2021 and June 2022 in twenty primary health care units in the Sidama and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) regions. A total of 4367 (99.2%) household contacts of 1069 bacteriologically confirmed PTB index cases were symptomatically screened for TB by trained health extension workers (HEWs) at the community level. A total of 696 (15.9%) symptomatic contacts were identified, of which 694 (99.7%) were evaluated for TB, resulting in 60 (8.6%) TB cases. A total of 1567 (95.3%) asymptomatic children and adolescent contacts <15 years of age were initiated on TPT (88.8%) at health posts in the community. After the interventions, there was a significant increase in contact screening coverage (95.6% vs. 99.2%, Odds Ratio (OR), 5.54; 95% Confidence interval (CI), 2.93–10.13) and TPT uptake (81.7% vs. 95.4%; OR, 4.67; 95% CI, 2.54–8.23). The TPT completion rate was also 98.1% (of 1567). The TPT completion rate at health posts in the community was higher than the rate at health centers (99.4% vs. 88.0%; OR, 20.95; 95% CI, 8.97–52.71). TPT uptake and completion in children and adolescent contacts could be improved remarkably with the implementation of an enhanced community-based model of intervention in high-TB-burden districts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tuberculosis Control in Africa and Asia)
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15 pages, 1597 KiB  
Article
The Trend of Tuberculosis Case Notification Rates from 1995 to 2022 by Country Income and World Health Organization Region
by Kobto G. Koura and Anthony D. Harries
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(12), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9120294 - 2 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1801
Abstract
Over the past 27 years, three major global TB control strategies have been implemented, and it is important at this stage to evaluate their impact on tuberculosis (TB) case notification rates (CNRs). This study, therefore, analyzed TB CNR trends from 1995 to 2022 [...] Read more.
Over the past 27 years, three major global TB control strategies have been implemented, and it is important at this stage to evaluate their impact on tuberculosis (TB) case notification rates (CNRs). This study, therefore, analyzed TB CNR trends from 1995 to 2022 across 208 countries and islands, using data from the WHO Global TB Programme database. Countries were classified by income level and population size based on World Bank criteria. The analysis revealed significant disparities in TB CNRs across income groups: Low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries consistently reported higher CNRs compared to high-income countries. Regional analysis further demonstrated notable variations influenced by both economic and geographical factors. These findings reaffirm the strong link between TB and poverty, underscoring the need for a holistic approach to combat the disease. Efforts must extend beyond enhancing health care access and delivery to addressing the social determinants that drive TB transmission and progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tuberculosis Control in Africa and Asia)
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7 pages, 3387 KiB  
Case Report
Tuberculous Meningitis in a Child: A Rare Presentation of Cytotoxic Lesion of the Corpus Callosum
by Ny Thi Hong Tran, Nhung Thi Hong Nguyen, Uyen Phuong Vo and Julie Huynh
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(4), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10040096 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 306
Abstract
Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as young children and people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Major challenges to accurate and early diagnosis of TBM are the non-specific clinical features which overlap with [...] Read more.
Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as young children and people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Major challenges to accurate and early diagnosis of TBM are the non-specific clinical features which overlap with other infectious syndromes and the lack of adequately sensitive tests to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Diagnosis is, therefore, still dependent on clinical suspicion along with clinical features, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) characteristics and, where facilities are available, neuroimaging. Typical neuroimaging features of TBM include hydrocephalus, infarcts, tuberculomas and basal exudates; however, less well described are very rare features such as cytotoxic lesion of the corpus callosum (CLOCC), otherwise known as transient splenic lesion. We describe the first case report of a child with confirmed TBM who had a very rare presentation of CLOCC with complete recovery and present a literature review on the pathophysiology and alternative aetiologies where CLOCC is more commonly seen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tuberculosis Control in Africa and Asia)
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