The SAARC Regional Programme Guidelines of Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Tuberculosis (TB)

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that childhood TB accounts for 6% to 10% of all TB cases worldwide each year. In countries with a high rate of TB disease, children account for as much as 40% of all new TB cases.

In 2014, there were an estimated 3.1 million incident cases of TB in the SAARC Region, equivalent to 185 cases per 100000 populations and estimated deaths due to TB was 0.37 million. This carries 32% of the global burden of TB incidence. Four of the eight Member Countries in the Region are among the 22 high burden countries, with India accounting for 23 % of the world’s TB cases. Among 3.1 million incident TB cases, 2.1 million are notified new and relapse cases. Published data about the epidemiology of TB in children is scarce in SAARC Region, though it is considered one of the most common causes of childhood morbidity.

The guideline focuses on being able to provide guidance in child TB to health workers working at the primary or secondary level.