TB usually spreads through the air when a person with active lung TB coughs or sneezes for prolonged periods in close contact. It does not commonly spread by sharing water, food, or utensils alone. However, since your child is in close contact with the grandfather, screening is important.
Another important point is that your child’s weight has remained almost the same from 1 year to 2 years 9 months, which needs proper evaluation. Poor weight gain can occur due to many reasons such as inadequate diet, recurrent infections, anemia, worm infestation, nutritional deficiencies, or sometimes infections like TB.
Next Steps
Please take your child to a pediatrician soon for:
1) Detailed examination
2) Growth assessment
3) TB contact screening
4) Evaluation for poor weight gain
If the grandfather has infectious pulmonary TB and the child is exposed regularly, preventive TB medicine may sometimes be advised after evaluation.
Health Tips
Watch for symptoms like:
1) Persistent cough
2) Fever for more than 2 weeks
3) Reduced appetite
4) Weight loss or failure to gain weight (like in this case)
5) Night sweats or unusual tiredness