Portugal Sees Decline in Pediatric Tuberculosis Cases
Portugal recorded 37 cases of tuberculosis (TB) among children and adolescents aged 14 and under in 2024, according to a new report from the Directorate-General of Health (DGS). While the disease remains a concern for public health officials, the data shows a promising decline in infections among the youngest and most vulnerable age groups.
The 2025 Tuberculosis Surveillance and Monitoring Report, released to coincide with World Tuberculosis Day, revealed that 19 cases occurred in children aged five and under. This represents an incidence rate of 3.7 cases per 100,000 children—a notable decrease from 5.2 in 2023 and 6.2 in 2022. For those aged 6 to 14, cases remained stable at 18, maintaining a rate of 2.1 per 100,000.
Vulnerability in Childhood
Health officials emphasized that childhood TB is almost always a reflection of adult transmission. “Tuberculosis in the pediatric context exists because there are cases in adults who transmit the disease to children,” said Sofia Sousa, deputy of the National Tuberculosis Program. “Children are a particularly vulnerable group; even brief exposure can lead to rapid infection.”
The report highlighted the importance of the BCG vaccine. While the vaccine does not prevent TB entirely, it is critical for protecting against the most severe and life-threatening forms of the disease. Of the children diagnosed, roughly 37% of those under five and 44% of those aged 6 to 14 had received the vaccine. Geographically, the cases were heavily concentrated in the urban hubs of Lisbon, Porto, and Setúbal.
Shifting Demographics and Migration Trends
The report also identified a shift in the demographic profile of TB patients in Portugal. While the majority of cases nationwide occur in people born in Portugal, there is a rising trend among migrant populations, who accounted for 39.1% of all cases in 2024.
The notification rate among migrants is 2.7 times higher than that of the general population. Data indicates that nearly half of these cases (46.3%) involve individuals who have lived in Portugal for less than two years. Sofia Sousa explained that many migrants arrive from countries where TB is highly prevalent. “It is expected that they may already be infected, even if they are not yet ill,” she noted.
Removing Barriers to Care
Despite the higher incidence rates in migrant communities, health authorities are working to ensure that healthcare remains accessible to everyone, regardless of legal status. In Portugal, TB diagnosis and treatment are entirely free.
The DGS is currently collaborating with community and civil society organizations to spread the word that screening is accessible and treatment is available at no cost. The goal is to reduce the time between the onset of symptoms and the start of treatment, which is essential for stopping the chain of transmission. In 2024, children and adolescents represented just 2.4% of the 1,536 total TB cases in Portugal, and for the second consecutive year, no deaths were recorded in this age group.
Image: Pexels – Pavel Danilyuk
