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New Delhi, April 15, 2025: India is grappling with a significant rise in tuberculosis (TB) among its youngest citizens, according to recent government data. Notified paediatric TB cases in children aged 14 years and below have surged by 38% over the past five years, climbing from 102,090 cases in 2020 to 141,182 in 2024.
Health experts are pointing to a combination of factors driving this worrying trend. Persistent malnutrition, which weakens children’s immune systems, the lingering health impacts following the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant strains of TB are all considered major contributors.
While part of the increase in reported numbers may stem from improved diagnostic methods and more rigorous surveillance efforts across the country, significant concerns remain about potential underreporting. Diagnosing TB in children presents unique challenges. Paediatric TB often occurs outside the lungs (extrapulmonary TB), which is inherently harder to detect. Furthermore, collecting sputum samples from young children is difficult, and the symptoms – such as fever, cough, and weight loss – can be non-specific, often mimicking other common childhood illnesses.
The Indian government, under its National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination, is actively working to enhance TB screening programs and promote earlier diagnosis among vulnerable populations, including children. However, experts highlight that gaps persist in the effective implementation of these strategies on the ground. Ensuring consistent access to appropriate diagnostics and treatment, especially for challenging drug-resistant TB cases in children, remains a critical area needing urgent attention.
This steep rise in paediatric TB underscores the need for reinforced public health measures focusing on nutrition, early and accurate detection, and comprehensive treatment access for children affected by the disease.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information reported by Business Standard on April 13, 2025, regarding trends in notified paediatric TB cases in India using government data.
