Tuberculosis in a Large Day Care Center: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background Epidemiological data on tuberculosis (TB) incidence and transmission rates in children are sparse but valuable, as cases of childhood tuberculosis reflect the current transmission (Brodhun BA et al., Bericht zur Epidemiologie der Tuberkulose in Deutschland, Robert Koch-Institut 2021). With over 10 million new cases every year, TB is still not only one of the most common infectious diseases in the world, but also one of the deadliest infectious diseases. With an overall incidence of approximately 5 per 100,000 inhabitants, Germany is a low-incidence country regarding TB. In recent years, however, Germany has not managed to make significant progress when it comes to the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy , which aims to reduce the incidence to 1 per 100,000 inhabitants by 2035 (Global tuberculosis report 2024. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024; Robert Koch–Institut, online press release “Tuberkulose – auch für Deutschland nach wie vor relevant” , https://www.rki.de/DE/Aktuelles/Neuigkeiten-und-Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2024/ 04_2024.html , March 2024). Since children below 5 years of age have an increased risk of both infections and a severe course of the disease (Martinez L et al., Lancet 2020; 395: 973–984), early diagnosis and thorough contact tracing in this age group is particularly important. Data on the transmission rates of tuberculosis in Germany are generally poor, as regional or national registers for contact tracing and surveillance do not exist. The transmission rates of TB can only be estimated from casuistic reports. Additionally, cases with an usual course of the disease are rarely published, leading to a significant reporting bias. Publication History Received: 01 July 2025 Accepted after revision: 03 December 2025 Article published online: 16 January 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany