Abstract:

Objective: To analyze the incidence and epidemic characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among children aged 0-14 from 2008 to 2022 in Fujian Province, and to provide evidence for the prevention and control strategy of childhood tuberculosis. Methods: The incidence data and population data of PTB among children aged 0-14 in Fujian Province from 2008 to 2022 were extracted from the National Health Security Information Project Disease Prevention and Control Information System-Surveillance Management System and Basic Information System. The disease distribution and etiological examination results were analyzed using retrospective description and Joinpoint regression model. Results: From 2008 to 2022, a total of 1430 PTB cases among children aged 0-14 were reported in Fujian Province, accounting for 0.46% of the overall PTB patients (1430/307833). The average annual reported incidence of PTB in children during the 15-year period was 1.44/100000 (1430/99435600), which was generally stable (AAPC=-5.69%,t=-1.618,P=0.106). The average annual reported incidence of PTB among children aged 10-14 was 3.20/100000 (929/29051400), which was higher than that among children aged 0-4 and 5-9 (χ²=887.195,P<0.001). The reported incidence of PTB among children aged 0-4 showed a significant downward trend (AAPC=-8.55%,t=-2.438,P=0.015). The reported incidence of tuberculosis among children aged 5-9 and 10-14 showed a phased change, showing a significant upward trend in 2010—2022 (APC=3.28%,t=2.416,P=0.036) and 2010—2019 (APC=7.57%,t=2.787, P=0.027), respectively. There was no monthly periodic change in the incidence of PTB in children reported within each year. The average etiologically positive rate in children with PTB was 35.24% (504/1430) which showed an increasing trend from year to year ($\chi_{\text{trend}}^2$=55.195,P<0.001). The highest and lowest annual reported incidence of PTB among children were in Ningde City and Longyan City, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=169.688,P<0.001). Except for Putian City (AAPC=-6.77%,t=-2.957, P=0.011) and Nanping City (AAPC=-5.67%,t=-2.195,P=0.047), where the reported incidences showed significant downward trends, incidences in the rest of cities were stable. Conclusion: From 2008 to 2022, the reported incidence of PTB in children in Fujian Province was at a low level, relatively stable through years, with an increase among children aged 5-9 and 10-14 in recent years, while the incidence in Ningde City was higher and the downward trend was not obvious, which should be paid attention to.

Key words: Tuberculosis,pulmonary, Children, Incidence, Epidemiologic studies, Regression analysis