Scenario of Tuberculosis in India

the lower priority traditionally afforded to children by TB control programmes. Research and surveillance data in the field of childhood TB are scarce. Children are at a much higher risk of severe disease and death than adults. Overall the risk of disease is reported highest among neonates, infants and then in late teens. 5 and 10 years age group (“safe school years”) escape infection. Disease in young children, 15 to 30 years reflects new infection (incidence), rather than secondary reactivation and continuing transmission. The paediatric disease burden is a potential indicator of current transmission within a community with multi drug resistant (MDR), and extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains. Untreated Latent TB infections are root cause of future Epidemics.