Marked Geographic, Racial, and Ethnic Disparities in Pediatric Tuberculosis in the U.S.

Pediatric TB incidence in the U.S. is low and declining, but one third of cases occurred outside of groups targeted for testing.

Tuberculosis (TB) in children reflects recent transmission and can help identify places and populations with active transmission. To help inform TB treatment and prevention efforts, researchers described the epidemiology of pediatric TB in the U.S. and U.S.-affiliated islands. Using data reported to the U.S. National Tuberculosis Surveillance System from 2007 through 2017, they analyzed tuberculosis disease data for children younger than 15 years and adolescents 15 to 17 years old.

During the study period, TB incidence among children and adolescents declined by almost half (48%). Almost one third of U.S. cases were identified through contact tracing. TB incidence was about 13 times higher among non-U.S. born versus U.S.-born children and ado…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Marked Geographic, Racial, and Ethnic Disparities in Pediatric Tuberculosis in the U.S.

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Reviewing Author