Abstract: According to WHO estimation, there are more than half a million cases of tuberculosis in children occurring globally each year. Every day, more than 200 children under the age of 15 die of tuberculosis—a disease that is curable. WHO chart the roadmap for childhood tuberculosis: towards zero deaths. However, diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis remains difficult because of the atypical clinical symptoms and lack of sputum production in young children. Rates of progression from latent infection to active disease (including severe forms of the disease, such as meningitis, disseminated disease, or death as a result of M. tuberculosis) are higher in infants and young children. China ranks second among the high-burden countries for tuberculosis, children tuberculosis epidemic situation in China is not optimistic. Only by focusing on the common challenges for diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of children tuberculosis, we can achieve the goal of zero tuberculosis deaths among children.

Key words: Tuberculosis/mortality, Child