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Trends in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Among Children and Youth in China

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study published in the BMC Public Health journal has analyzed trends in the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among children and youth in mainland China from 2019 to 2024. The research, led by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, aimed to provide data-driven insights to inform policy decisions for TB care and prevention. The study extracted data from the National TB Surveillance System, analyzing the notified PTB cases, population demographics, and epidemiological characteristics of the disease.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study reported 419,000 new PTB cases in mainland China from 2019 to 2024, with 90.6% of cases in youth and 9.4% in children.
  • The majority of cases were students (48.3%) and farmers (23.8%), with a significant increase in the proportion of ethnic minorities, students, individuals identified through active case finding, drug-resistant TB cases, and those with positive bacteriological tests over time.
  • The male-to-female ratio remained stable in children, while in youth, males were consistently more affected. The average age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) over six years was 17.2 per 100,000, with a significant decrease from 24.7 per 100,000 in 2019 to 10.5 per 100,000 in 2024.
  • The research concludes that targeted interventions addressing social and structural factors, along with enhanced regional monitoring and public health measures, are essential to further reduce incidence.

Statistics:

  • 419,000 new PTB cases reported in mainland China from 2019 to 2024.
  • 90.6% of PTB cases in youth and 9.4% in children.
  • 48.3% of cases were students, and 23.8% were farmers.
  • Male-to-female ratio increased with age, from stable in children to consistently more affected in youth.
  • Average ASIR decreased from 24.7 per 100,000 in 2019 to 10.5 per 100,000 in 2024 (AAPC = -15.98, P < 0.01).

Sources:

  • Liu, E. et al. (2025). Trends in epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis among children and youth in Chinese mainland from 2019 to 2024: analysis of national surveillance data. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 3518.
  • Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • NewsRx. Researchers from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Discuss Findings in Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Trends in epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis among children and youth in Chinese mainland from 2019 to 2024: ...). Pediatrics Week. November 1, 2025; p 424.

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