To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and incidence trends of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in children aged 0-14 years in Shaanxi Province from 2010 to 2024, so as to provide a reference for optimizing child TB prevention and control strategies.

Data on pulmonary TB cases in children aged 0-14 years and demographic information in Shaanxi Province from 2010 to 2024 were collected from Surveillance and Reporting Management System with Disease Prevention and Control Information Management System under the National Health Security Informatization Project Disease Prevention and Control Information System. A Joinpoint regression model was established to analyze the temporal, spatial, and population distribution trends of child pulmonary TB incidence.

A total of 2 954 cases of pulmonary TB in children aged 0-14 years were reported in Shaanxi Province from 2010 to 2024, accounting for 0.97% of all TB cases in the general population. The average annual reported incidence rate in children was 3.32 per 100 000. Among these cases, 804 were pathogenetically positive, showing a increasing trend (χ_trend²=420.94, P < 0.01). The overall reported incidence rate of pulmonary TB in children aged 0-14 years in Shaanxi Province showed a decreasing trend, dropping from 5.35 per 100 000 in 2010 to 2.41 per 100 000 in 2024. Joinpoint regression analysis identified three distinct phases for the reported incidence rate of TB: a rapid decline from 2010 to 2013 (APC=-20.02%, 95%CI=-33.64% to -10.42%), a slight increase from 2013 to 2017 (APC=11.18%, 95%CI=3.07%-24.17%) and a slight decline again from 2017 to 2024 (APC=-7.27%, 95%CI=-12.73% to -4.30%) (all P < 0.01). Among children aged 0-14 years, the age group with the highest average annual reported incidence rate was 10-14 years (8.02 per 100 000), followed by 5-9 years (1.44 per 100 000), and 0-4 years had the lowest rate (0.95 per 100 000). The difference in reported incidence rates among the three age groups was statistically significant (χ²=51.91, P < 0.01). The average annual reported incidence rate of TB was 3.25 per 100 000 in boys and 3.39 per 100 000 in girls, with no statistically significant difference (χ²=2.01, P>0.05). There was no obvious periodic variation in the annual case reporting. Among all cities in Shaanxi Province, Ankang City had the highest average annual reported incidence rate (5.16 per 100 000).

From 2010 to 2024, the reported incidence rate of pulmonary TB in children aged 0-14 years in Shaanxi Province showed an overall decreasing trend. However, it is still necessary to strengthen active surveillance, implement targeted measures in high-incidence areas such as Ankang City, and maintain continuous attention to child TB prevention and control.