Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41494628›Full record

ArticlePediatrics2026

Epidemiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the Western Cape: A Population-Based Study (2017-2023).

Lauren R Brown, Mariette Smith, Cari van Schalkwyk, Leigh F Johnson, Vanessa Mudaly, Erika Mohr-Holland, H Simon Schaaf, James A Seddon, Anneke C Hesseling, James Nuttall and 4 more

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Article in Pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Lauren R BrownSouth African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Mariette SmithProvincial Health Data Centre, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
Cari van SchalkwykSouth African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Leigh F JohnsonCentre for Integrated Data and Epidemiological Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Vanessa MudalyDepartment of Health and Wellness, Provincial Government of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
Erika Mohr-HollandCity of Cape Town Health Department, Specialised Health, Epidemiology Unit, Cape Town, South Africa.
H Simon SchaafDesmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
James A SeddonDesmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Anneke C HesselingDesmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
James NuttallDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Helena RabieDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Mary-Ann DaviesCentre for Integrated Data and Epidemiological Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Andrew BoulleProvincial Health Data Centre, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
Karen du PreezDesmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.

Funding

Interdisciplinary and multi-level approach to estimate the disease burden and outcomes of childhood tuberculous meningitis.K43TW011006 · FIC · STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY · PI DU PREEZ, KAREN · 2020 to 2024
$622k
FIC NIH HHS K43 TW011006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPediatric tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern in high-burden settings like the Western Cape (WC), South Africa. We analyzed geographic differences in TB burden among children and young adolescents, described temporal trends, and quantified gaps in the TB care cascade.

methodsWe conducted a population-based descriptive study of pediatric TB episodes recorded in the Provincial Health Data Centre (PHDC) from 2017 to 2023, stratified by 5-year age groups. We assessed HIV status, drug resistance status, microbiological testing, disease classification, place of diagnosis, and TB treatment outcomes. Reporting gaps were estimated by comparing PHDC-recorded episodes with national notifications. Incidence rates of diagnosis were calculated using mid-year population estimates.

resultsIn 2023, TB incidence rates of diagnosis in the WC were 722.4, 189.1, and 171.2 per 100 000 population for ages 0 to 4, 5 to 9, and 10 to 14 years. Children aged 0 to 4 years accounted for 68.9% of pediatric TB episodes. In the Cape Winelands district in 2023, TB incidence of diagnosis among 0- to 4-year-olds was double that of adults in the district and 2 to 4 times higher than 0- to 4-year-olds in other districts. We found high levels of underreporting (20.6%) and initial loss to follow-up (17.9%) among children and young adolescents diagnosed with TB between 2017 and 2023.

conclusionsOur findings highlight geographic variation in pediatric TB burden in the WC, emphasizing the need to address local drivers to inform targeted interventions. Gaps in the pediatric TB care cascade remain major concerns. Strengthening integrated data systems beyond TB treatment registers could improve surveillance, health system planning, and patient outcomes.

Indexed as

TuberculosisAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansIncidenceInfantInfant, NewbornMaleSouth Africa

Identifiers

PMID41494628
PMCPMC13180477

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.