Abstract:

Objective To analyze the characteristics of tuberculosis epidemic among students in Heilongjiang Province, 2011-2017. Methods The tuberculosis epidemic data of 6173 students reported from the Infectious Disease Information Management System in Heilongjiang Province from 2011 to 2017 were collected. The demographic data were from the 2012-2017 Heilongjiang Statistical Yearbook. The reported incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis and reported incidence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis among students in Heilongjiang Province from 2011 to 2017 were calculated, and the incidence trend and epidemic characteristics were described. Results The reported incidence of tuberculosis among students in Heilongjiang Province was 13.85/100000 (729/5263189) in 2017, decreasing by 14.40% in comparison with 16.18/100000 (1056/6526400) in 2011. The overall trend was downward (χ²=51.54,P<0.01). Students reported higher incidence of tuberculosis in the third quarter in 2014 (29.46%, 274/930), and higher in the fourth quarter in 2017 (27.98%, 204/729). From 2011 to 2013 and 2015 to 2016, the proportion of patients reporting in the second quarter was relatively high: 34.09% (360/1056), 30.26% (332/1097), 32.34% (293/906) and 33.29% (235/706), 28.30% (212/749), respectively. The top of three regions with high incidence in 2017 were Hegang city (24.16/100000, 30/124181), Qitaihe city (22.88/100000, 26/113621) and Jixi city (20.58/100000, 45/218703). The incidence rate in the 16-18 age group was the highest (40.88%, 298/729), followed by the age group over 19 (36.49%, 266/729). Conclusion The tuberculosis epidemic situation in schools in Heilongjiang Province showed an downward trend overall. Except for a few years, the incidence in the second quarter was the highest. Hegang, Qitaihe and Jixi cities had the highest incidence of the disease, with the highest number of people at the high school stage.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary, Students, Incidence, Epidemiologic studies