A new analysis of nine studies suggests that children who have been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) may continue to have reduced lung function, even after they are considered cured. The review compared lung function measurements—specifically the amount of air a child can forcefully exhale in one second (FEV₁) and the total volume of air they can exhale (FVC)—between children who had completed TB treatment and healthy children.
The results showed that children who had been treated for TB had significantly lower FEV₁ and FVC scores compared to healthy controls. On average, their FEV₁ was about 1.5 standard deviations below normal, and FVC was about 1.4 standard deviations below normal. The ratio of FEV₁ to FVC, which helps distinguish different types of lung problems, was not significantly different overall, though there was a marginal decline when compared directly to controls.
It is important to note that these findings come from a meta-analysis of existing studies, and the results varied widely across the individual studies. The researchers caution that the pooled estimates should be seen as indicating an association, not as precise measurements of the actual lung function loss. No information was provided on whether these children had any symptoms or needed ongoing treatment.
For parents and doctors, this review highlights that lung function may not fully recover after TB treatment in children. However, more research is needed to understand how common these problems are and whether they affect daily life or long-term health.