A review of paediatric tuberculosis in Denmark: 10-year trend, 2000–2009

Abstract

Paediatric tuberculosis (TB) is a key indicator for recent transmission and presents a reservoir for the disease. We describe trends in epidemiology, microbiological characteristics and treatment outcome in Denmark between 2000 and 2009. Data were retrieved from the national TB surveillance system and the International Reference Laboratory of Mycobacteriology.In total, 323 TB cases were reported in children aged ,15 years, accounting for 7.6% of all notified cases in Denmark. The overall incidence rate of childhood TB declined from 4.1 per 100 000 to 1.9 per 100 000 in the study period. Immigrant children comprised 79.6% of all cases, with the highest incidence rate of 94.1 per 100 000 children in 2001. In contrast to immigrant children, the majority of Danish children were aged ,5 years and had a known exposure to TB. Pulmonary TB was the commonest presentation. Only half of the cases were culture confirmed.We observed an overall decreasing trend in the child to adult notification ratio, but a slight increase in the ratio when calculated specifically for ethnic Danes.Childhood TB needs continuous attention with a special focus on risk groups. Emphasis on improving early TB case detection, contact tracing and further implementation of preventive treatment is necessary. @ERSpublications Childhood TB needs continuous attention with a special focus on risk groups

Epidemiology and disease burden of tuberculosis in children: a global perspective

“…This trend is particularly pronounced in urban centers in the UK such as London,84 Birmingham,85 and Leeds 86. Similar patterns have occurred in other low-prevalence countries in Europe such as Sweden,87 Norway,88 and Denmark 89…”

The growing burden of childhood tuberculosis in Southern Tunisia: temporal trends across two decades: 1995-2016

“…In Australia, the average annual notification rates were significantly higher for those aged 0-4 years than for those aged 5-9 years or 10-14 years (10). In Denmark, the highest incidence rate of TB was amongst children aged 10-14 years in 2001 (11). These findings were in line with our results, suggesting the higher transmission risk of TB in school-age children compared with younger children.…”

“…Pediatric cases of TB accounted for nearly 7% of the total TB case load. Other similar proportions were reported, ranging from 5 to 7% in Australia, Netherlands and the USA (8-10) and from 7 to 8% in Denmark (11). We noted that 10 to 14 years cases contributed to approximately one-half of the total childhood TB, suggesting that tuberculosis in our pediatric population is a disease that favors the ages 5 to 14 years.…”

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“…The report by HATLEBERG et al [5] presents interesting longitudinal data and demonstrates the value of good quality surveillance data, which would be enhanced by better disease classification. Paediatric cases encourage a renewed focus on strategies to reduce TB transmission.…”

“…A study by HATLEBERG et al [5] presents long-term trend data from a 10-year survey conducted in Denmark. Similar to observations in Sweden [11], the majority of children diagnosed with TB were recent immigrants or refugees from TB-endemic countries, essentially providing ''a mirror to the world''.…”