Cytomegalovirus acquisition in infancy and the risk of tuberculosis disease in childhood: a longitudinal birth cohort study in Cape Town, South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The risk of tuberculosis disease after recent exposure is greatest before age 5 years; however, the mechanisms explaining this increased risk are not well elucidated. Acquisition of viral infections, such as cytomegalovirus, in early life might modulate the immune system. We aimed to evaluate the acquisition of cytomegalovirus infection in infancy and the development of tuberculosis disease in children.

Methods

In this prospective, birth cohort study we enrolled pregnant women who were between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation attending antenatal care in Paarl, a periurban setting outside of Cape Town, South Africa. Participants were recruited from two clinics (TC Newman and Mbekweni). Infants were given Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination at birth as per national pol

SUBMITTER: Martinez L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8609281 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature