Tuberculosis (TB) continues to cast a long shadow over the state’s public health. Over the past few years, the state saw a continuous rise in TB cases among children under the age of 14 years.
Of the 59,994 TB cases reported across the state in 2025, 13,106 cases were in Ludhiana, the highest for any district. In a similarly worrying trend, the district also had the highest share in paediatric TB cases in 2025 — 712 out of 2,733.
Over the past five years, paediatric TB cases have gone up by nearly 25 per cent.
In 2020, the state saw 2,097 cases, which dipped slightly to 2,038 in 2021, and then went up to 2,266 in 2022; 2,316 in 2023; and 2,517 in 2024.
The steady increase in TB cases among children underscores the urgency of early detection and intervention. The district has become the focus of intensified surveillance efforts as health authorities train Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams to identify suspected cases among schoolchildren and ensure timely treatment.
“TB spreads in children with low immunity through inhalation of airborne mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria released by an infected adult coughing or sneezing. Children with weak immune systems can’t control the infection, allowing it to progress from exposure to active and contagious stage rapidly,” said district TB officer Dr Ashish Chawla.
On the RBSK training sessions, he said: “The objective is to ensure early detection of suspected cases among schoolchildren and ensure appropriate treatment, preventing the disease’s spread.”
During the session, detailed information is provided on identification of common and hidden symptoms of TB among children, screening protocols, referral mechanisms and the role of RBSK teams during health checkups at schools. Teams are also guided on how to identify children with suspected symptoms during routine school visits and ensure they are referred to appropriate health facilities.
