Abstract: Objective To understand the epidemic features of tuberculosis(TB)in students in Sichuan province and provide evidences for implementing TB control strategies and measures in students.  Methods We used data mining methods to analyze data obtained from Chinese Tuberculosis Information Management System and Sichuan Statistical Yearbook. The total number of students of Sichuan Province from 2009 to 2013 were 12 196 438, 13 307 748, 13 123 102, 12 788 048 and 12 788 048 respectively. Excel 2013 and SPSS 19.0 were used to analyze characteristics of TB students, trend Chi-square test was used to compare the sources of TB cases, diagnosis and therapeutic category of students among different years. Chi-square test was used to compare the characteristics like gender, nationality, diagnosis category, initial treatment and retreatment constitution and treatment outcome between students and the whole population. The delay time was analyzed by variance analysis. The significance level was 0.05.  Results The registered TB in students declined from 33.5/100 000(4085/12 196 438) in 2009 to 20.7/100 000 (2652/12 788 048) in 2013(χ²=495.675, P<0.05). Between 2009 and 2013, 39.1% (6222/15 905) of patients concentrated in northeast of Sichuan. Proportion of student TB patients detected by passive identification had a decline from 40.6%(1688/4149) in 2009 to 30.5%(801/2626) in 2013 (χ²=135.446, P<0.05),while referral tracking constituent ratio rose from 53.4%(2214/4149) in 2009 to 64.5%(1694/2626) in 2013 (χ²=135.446, P<0.05). In 2012, the proportion of smear-positive in student patients (21.9%(629/2876)) was lower than that of the whole population (32.2%(19 325/60 101)) (χ²=183.457, P<0.05), while patients with TB pleurisy in students (3.6%(104/2876)) was higher than that in the whole population (1.7%(1010/60 101)) (χ²=183.457, P<0.05). The proportion of retreatment smear-positive patients in students(4.9%(31/630)) was significantly lower than that of the whole population (16.3%(3155/19 325)) (χ²=59.153, P<0.05). Treatment delay time (46.37±130.449 days) of student patients was shorter than the whole population (75.29±317.071 days) (F=23.810, P<0.05).  Conclusion The students TB has a declining trend, but students TB control need strengthening in certain areas like northeast of Sichuan and minority concentrated areas and TB workers should be on the alert for the increase in student patients with tuberculous pleurisy.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/epidemiolog, Students, Registries, Sichuan province