Background The diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis is still a challenge in the world because children are generally paucibacillary moreover obtaining sputum is very difficult. Most of the existing diagnostic tests for tuberculosis are based on sputum sampling in symptomatic tuberculosis patients. The objective of this work was to detect mycobacteria by Gene Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra in the stools of children samples.

Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study between January 2022 and June 2022on the diagnosis of tuberculosis by the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test from the stools. All Children under 15 years suspected of having tuberculosis from the pediatric department were included in the study. Stools samples have been collected and tested by xpert in the P3 laboratory of tuberculosis and hemorrhagic fevers of UCRC. In addition, sputum samples were also collected for Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra. The variable diagnostic performance was calculated.

Results We enrolled twenty-two (22) children suspected of tuberculosis. The average age of the children was 21.72 ±21.93 months. The sex ratio was sex (3,4) in favor of the male and 14% (3/22) of the patients had positive HIV status. After carrying out the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test from stools and sputum, 45% (10/22) of stools were positive and among the sputum 40% (9/22) were positive. The positive predictive value (PPV) and the negative predictive value (NPV) of the test Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra stool and sputum were 47,62% and 47,83%) and for sputum 45,83% and 45.45% respectively.

Conclusion Considering these results, the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test performed on stool may be an alternative for the diagnosis of childhood TB in the absence of a good sputum sample.