Venues for Care
Children with TB disease receive care at all the BIPAI Centers of Excellence in Sub-Saharan Africa and Romania. Children in Houston, Texas, receive care through a collaboration between Texas Children’s Hospital and the Harris County Public Health TB Elimination program.
Children’s Tuberculosis (TB) Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital
The Children’s TB Clinic was established over 25 years ago and is the largest pediatric tuberculosis clinic in the United States. It is staffed by Drs. Jeffrey Starke, Andrea Cruz, Anna Mandalakas, and Lydia Ong, PA-C. View more information.
Services provided: children with TB exposure, infection, and disease are cared for at this clinic.
- Placement and interpretation of tuberculin skin tests (PPDs)
- Obtaining and interpreting interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs)
- Chest radiographs (x-rays) and other radiographic studies, as needed
- Laboratory services
- Coordination with other consulting services
- Admission to Texas Children’s Hospital, if necessary
Location and times:
The clinic is located on the 16th floor of the Clinical Care Center (corner of Fannin Street and Holcombe Boulevard):
Texas Children’s Hospital
6701 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77030
The clinic meets Tuesday and Friday mornings. The first appointment is at 8 a.m., and the last appointment is at 10 a.m.
Parking: Parking is available at several Texas Medical Center parking garages.
Referrals to TB Clinic occur several ways:
Referrals from community physicians:
Physicians can call Texas Children’s Hospital Central Scheduling at (832) 822-2778. They will be connected with the Infectious Disease office and be asked to complete a form providing additional clinical information. Children need not have chest radiographs prior to arrival in TB clinic; we can obtain these at the time of the initial visit. However, if a child has already had a chest radiograph, it is helpful if the copies of this film can be given to the family to bring to their appointment.
Referrals for children hospitalized with suspected tuberculosis disease:
Physicians can call Texas Children’s Hospital Central Scheduling at (832) 822-2778. They will be connected with the Infectious Disease office and be asked to complete a form providing additional clinical information, diagnostic test results, and medication dosing. We prefer that children have an appointment scheduled prior to hospital discharge, to prevent barriers to care.
Texas Children’s Hospital Mobile Clinics
The Mobile Clinics are fully-equipped medical units that travel to low-income communities in the greater Houston area to provide comprehensive medical services to underserved children. At each visit, children are screened for TB exposure and receive diagnostic testing as needed. Children who are determined to have TB infection without active disease are treated and followed on the mobile clinic, In conjunction with the Harris County Public Health TB Elimination program. Children with active TB disease are referred for inpatient admission to Texas Children’s Hospital or for outpatient care at the Children’s TB Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital, depending on the severity of their illness.
Visit the Texas Children’s Hospital Mobile Clinic program website for more information.
