Tackling the Tuberculosis Burden in Children: A Global Perspective

By Crystal Lubbe

March 12, 2025

Did you know the global burden of tuberculosis (TB) among children has dropped significantly over the past three decades? A recently published article analyses the global tuberculosis burden children face. It details the situation from 1990 to 2021 using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The report shows a significant decrease in TB incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) over this period. However, regional and socioeconomic disparities remain notable. Despite progress, tuberculosis continues to pose a major public health threat, especially in areas with a low socio-demographic index (SDI).

Key Insights

  • Decline in TB Burden: The global TB incidence among children and adolescents decreased by 37.4% from 1990 to 2021. Deaths also dropped by 71.7%.
  • Regional Disparities: Regions with low SDI, such as parts of Africa, still face a high tuberculosis burden in children disproportionately. High-income regions, however, have seen substantial reductions.
  • Sex Differences: Females under 20 have higher age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR), mortality rates (ASMR), and DALY rates compared to males.
  • Drug Resistance: Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) among children and adolescents are growing concerns.

Background Context

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working to end TB through its End TB Strategy. This strategy aims to reduce TB incidence and mortality by defined targets. Progress has been slow, especially in children and adolescents, where TB remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated TB control efforts. It disrupted healthcare services and led to underreporting of TB cases. For detailed analysis, see here.

Implications

The findings have important implications for health economics and outcomes research:

  • Healthcare Infrastructure: Investing in healthcare infrastructure, especially in low SDI regions, is crucial for improving TB diagnosis and treatment.
  • Socioeconomic Interventions: Addressing factors like poverty and malnutrition can help reduce TB transmission.
  • Drug Resistance Management: Effective strategies are needed to manage drug-resistant TB and prevent its spread among vulnerable populations.
  • Research and Development: More research into pediatric TB diagnostic tools and treatment formulations is urgently needed to improve outcomes for children and adolescents.
Reference url

Recent Posts

Strengthening Supply Chains: The EU Critical Medicines Act

By João L. Carapinha

May 12, 2026

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has welcomed the provisional political agreement on the EU Critical Medicines Act, an initiative designed to enhance the availability, production, and supply of critical medicines throughout the European Union. This agreement represents a key a...
Overcoming Challenges in Managed Entry Agreements for ATMPs

By João L. Carapinha

Decision-makers in England, the Netherlands, and Spain consistently identify administrative burden, outcome measurement, and data collection as the foremost obstacles to adopting managed entry agreements ATMPs. These challenges emerge most acutely when hybrid or outcome-based agreements are consi...
Developer Engagement Misalignment: Challenges in Assessing Advanced Therapies

By João L. Carapinha

May 11, 2026

Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) offer transformative options for rare and previously untreatable conditions, yet their high upfront costs, uncertain durability, and single-arm trial data create major reimbursement barriers. The 2026 pre-proof study by Greco et al. shows that developer...