Epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis among children in Shandong, China, 2005-2017

Background Diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children is challenging. Epidemiological data of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) are urgently needed. Methods We described trends in epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes in seven cities of Shandong province, China, during 2005-2017. Data were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Results Among 6283 (2.4% of all PTB) PTB cases aged Conclusion The overall incidence of childhood PTB declined significantly with the disease burden shifting from smear-positive PTB to smear-negative PTB. The discrepancies between notifications and estimations in both TB morbidity and mortality of children need to be addressed urgently.