**5. Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in India**

Because it can sterilise latent infection, LTBI chemotherapy is the sole biological TB control intervention. Isoniazid, at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day for 6 months, is suggested by the IAP for the treatment of LTBI. The following people should receive treatment:


*Perspective Chapter: Tuberculosis Drugs Doses from Indian Scenario – A Review DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108247*

• If there is no evidence of congenital TB in the new-born child born to a TB positive mother [44].

In adults, individuals with RA and LTBI who are scheduled for immunosuppression should be treated (biologicals). This is in accordance with the ACR's recommendations [45]. Chemotherapy is started in HIV patients as stated above. However, because there are no defined rules for India, therapy for immunocompromised people and close contacts of active cases is done on a case-by-case basis. In nations with a high incidence of tuberculosis, treatment options include isoniazid monotherapy for 6 months, rifampicin and isoniazid combination daily for 3 months (in children 15 years), and rifapentine and isoniazid weekly for 3 months. Isoniazid is administered to adults at a dose of 5 mg/kg and to children at a dose of 10 mg/kg up to a maximum of 300 mg. When utilised, rifampicin is administered at a dose of 10 mg/ kg for adults and 15 mg/kg for children, with a maximum dose of 600 mg [31]. All of the following regimens were shown to be non-superior in the majority of studies undertaken to date. However, some regimens may be favoured over others on a case-by-case basis. Rifapentine/rifampicin-containing regimens, for example, are not recommended for HIV patients due to the significant risk of medication interactions. In some cases, these may be preferable because they are shorter and patients are more likely to comply. However, the financial ramifications must also be considered [32].
