The registration status of asymptomatic tuberculosis among children aged 0-14 years in China from 2021 to 2024

doi:10.20199/j.issn.1672-2302.2025.06.004

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To analyze the registration status of asymptomatic tuberculosis among children aged 0-14 years in China from 2021 to 2024 for evidence to optimize tuberculosis prevention and control strategies for children. Methods The data on tuberculosis cases with documented information in the symptom field across the country from 2021 to 2024 were retrieved from the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the distribution characteristics of asymptomatic tuberculosis cases among children aged 0-14 years across time, region, and population. Results From 2021 to 2024, a total of 3 344 asymptomatic tuberculosis cases in children aged 0-14 were enrolled in this study. The month with the highest cumulative number of registered asymptomatic tuberculosis cases among children was September (498 cases, 14.89%), while February had the lowest number (137 cases, 4.10%). By age distribution, asymptomatic tuberculosis in children was dominated by those aged 10-14 years (2 772 cases, 82.89%). The number of registered cases in males and females was 1 558 and 1 786, respectively, with a sex ratio of 0.87∶1. A total of 2 095 cases registered were from the Han ethnic group (62.65%), while ethnic minorities accounted for 1 249 cases (37.35%). The top three ethnic minorities with the highest cumulative registered cases were the Yi ethnic group (429 cases), Tibetan ethnic group (330 cases), and Miao ethnic group (123 cases). The cumulative registered cases in the eastern, central, and western regions were 531 (15.88%), 619 (18.51%), and 2 194 (65.61%), respectively. The top three provinces with the highest cumulative registered cases were Sichuan (748 cases), Guizhou (508 cases), and Yunnan (365 cases). The primary sources of case registering were contact tracing (1 183 cases, 35.38%) and referrals (1 086 cases, 32.48%). Conclusion Currently, asymptomatic tuberculosis among children in China predominantly occurred in the those aged 10-14 years, with majority of the cases observed in the western regions. In the future, it is essential to further strengthen prevention and control efforts in the western region, enhance the intensity of active screening, and improve standardized medication and management of children with asymptomatic tuberculosis.

Key words: Asymptomatic tuberculosis, Children, Epidemiological characteristics

CLC Number:

R529.9

GE Fangjun, WEN Yaxin, LI Jinhao, XU Caihong. The registration status of asymptomatic tuberculosis among children aged 0-14 years in China from 2021 to 2024[J]. Journal of Tropical Diseases and Parasitology, 2025, 23(6): 335-340.

Figures/Tables 5

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年份	人群总体			0~14岁儿童
年份	总病例数（例）	无症状病例数（例）	无症状病例在总病例中的占比（%）	总病例数（例）	无症状病例数（例）	无症状病例在总病例中的占比（%）
2021	605 518	9 195	1.52	4 759	208	4.37
2022	527 209	50 272	9.54	4 460	1 073	24.06
2023	587 646	51 873	8.83	4 633	1 156	24.95
2024	467 087	44 951	9.62	3 648	907	24.86
合计	2 187 460	156 291	7.14	17 500	3 344	19.11

人群特征	儿童病例总体		儿童无症状病例
人群特征	病例数（例）	构成比（%）	病例数（例）	构成比（%）
年龄（岁）
0~4	1 298	7.42	112	3.35
5~9	3 633	20.76	460	13.76
10~14	12 569	71.82	2 772	82.89
性别
男性	8 022	45.84	1 558	46.59
女性	9 478	54.16	1 786	53.41
民族
汉族	10 222	58.41	2 095	62.65
彝族	2 587	14.78	429	12.83
藏族	2 564	14.65	330	9.87
苗族	468	2.67	123	3.68
其他少数民族	1 659	9.48	367	10.97

年份	直接就诊	转诊	主动筛查	健康体检	追踪	推介	合计
2021	25（12.02）	63（30.29）	5（2.40）	41（19.71）	74（35.58）	0（0）	208（100.00）
2022	102（9.51）	396（36.91）	66（6.15）	155（14.45）	346（32.25）	8（0.75）	1 073（100.00）
2023	115（9.95）	338（29.24）	89（7.70）	145（12.54）	463（40.05）	6（0.52）	1 156（100.00）
2024	86（9.48）	289（31.86）	118（13.01）	108（11.91）	300（33.08）	6（0.66）	907（100.00）
合计	328（9.81）	1 086（32.48）	278（8.31）	449（13.43）	1 183（35.38）	20（0.60）	3 344（100.00）