Data Collection

From September 2017 to September 2018, following informed consent, we conducted interviews with children and caregivers to determine whether children had experienced persistent TB symptoms in the previous 30 days. Children with symptoms received a chest radiograph. If a pediatric pulmonologist suspected TB based on the radiograph, a sample of sputum (or gastric aspirate if sputum could not be produced spontaneously) was collected for acid-fast smear and mycobacterial culture using BACTEC MGIT 960 (Becton-Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). Following these procedures and a clinical evaluation, an MoH pediatric pulmonologist, who was not the physician who conducted the initial clinical evaluation, made a diagnostic determination. The pediatric pulmonologist had access to the initial chest radiograph for comparison purposes.