Trend and characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in students of Anhui Province, 2008-2016

Objective To explore the epidemiological features of students' pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Anhui Province, and to provide scientific basis for the development of school TB prevention and control measures. Methods The data of tuberculosis among students were collected from the Infectious Diseases Reporting System (IDRS) in Anhui Province from 2008 to 2016, school and student information were collected from Statistical Yearbook of Anhui Province. Results The average incidence rate of students with active TB during 2008-2015 was 13.58/100 000. The average incidence rate of smear-positive pulmonary TB patients was 4.89/100 000, the incidence of smear-positive pulmonary TB was decreasing year by year(χ_trend²=678.71, P<0.001). A total of 11 880 cases of active pulmonary TB patients were reported from 2008 to 2016 in Anhui Province, the gender ratio was 1.75:1. Most of the cases were in 15-years, the highest incidence was in spring. The proportion of smear-negative lung TB was the highest among the patients with active lung TB in Anhui province in 2008-2016, with an average of 59.74%. In the composition of lung TB, the proportion of smear-positive pulmonary TB patients was decreasing year by year(χ_trend²=1 091.46, P<0.001). The proportion of smear-negative lung TB and tuberculosis pleurisy patients was increasing year by year(χ_{trend 1}²=711.69, P<0.001; χ_{trend 2}²=145.55, P<0.001). The rates of delayed treatment and the delayed diagnosis were 53.71% and 13.59% respectively. About 45.20% of patients were found by referral, higher than other means. The proportion of patients found by the physical examination was increasing year by year(χ_trend²=64.70, P<0.001). Conclusions The incidence of smear-positive pulmonary TB patients decreased year by year from 2008 to 2016. Most of the patients were in 15-years, and the highest incidence was in spring. Health examination and other ways to find patients increased year by year. The next step will be based on key populations and high incidence of time to strengthen student TB prevention and control work, continue to focus on the role of health examination in student tuberculosis discovery.