TB in Children in India

In India childhood Tuberculosis remains "a staggering problem". Childhood TB in India is approximately 31% of the global burden.

Children comprise 6-7% of all the patients under the NTEP. There is a gap of 4-5% in total notification against the estimated incidence.

If India is to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025, then children have to also be free of TB.

In 2020 a total of 102,090 cases of TB in children were notified. Of these 58,275 were notified from the public sector and 43,815 from the private sector. Ninety seven thousand three hundred and sixty seven were initiated on treatment.

In 2021 a total of 118,232 cases of TB in children were notified. Of these 65,319 were notified from the public sector and 52,913 from the private sector. A total of 113,222 were initiated on treatment.

Collaborative Framework to Address the Burden of Tuberculosis among Children and Adolescents

The National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP), the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya (RBSK), and the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya (RKSK) have come together to develop the National Collaborative Framework. Published in July 2021, the aim is to accelerate the drive to improve the treatment and prevention of TB in children.

The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

The RBSK has Mobile Health Teams who screen over 18 crore children annually. They identify a large number of children with birth defects, diseases, deficiencies or developmental delays. According to the Collaborative Framework their services were to be expanded to include TB screening, counselling and sensitization. It is believed that this would increase detection of children identified with TB and it would also reduce treatment delays.

Children aged 0 to 6 are screened at Anganwadis. An Anganwadi centre provides basic health care facilities in Indian villages.¹ It is a part of the Indian public health care system. Screening is done at the Anganwadi centre twice a year for children in the 0-6 age group.

The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK)

The RKSK aims to increase availability and access to health related information to the adolescent population. One way of doing this is through adolescent health days (AHD). These are organised in every village once a quarter. The Collaborative Framework added awareness on TB and messages on cough etiquette to the other health messages.

State Paediatric Notifications

Footnotes

1. https://targetstudy.com/articles/role-of-anganwadis-in-early-schooling-of-rural-children.html[↩]