Prevalence of Kaschin-Beck disease among Tibetan children in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture: a 3-year epidemiological survey

Background: Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD), a special type of osteoarthritis, is a disabling degenerative disease and it can cause severe dysarthrosis of joints. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of KBD among Tibetan children in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province and to provide evidence for KBD control in the western regions of China. Methods: Eleven counties were selected as the monitoring regions and all Tibetan children aged 6-13 years were selected as the study subjects. A questionnaire survey and clinical and radiological examinations (right hand and wrist) were performed. KBD was diagnosed according to the Chinese Radiological Criteria of Kaschin-Beck Disease Diagnosis (GB16003-1995). Results: X-ray analysis showed that all counties belonged to controlled endemic areas, and 4 of them were confirmed as active endemic areas for KBD. The overall detection rate of KBD in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture was 2.09% in 2007, 2.66% in 2008, and 1.20% in 2009. The majority of pediatric patients were found in Jinchuan and Markang counties. Conclusions: Although the prevalence of KBD showed a decreasing trend in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, some new pediatric cases are still emerging. Therefore, comprehensive measures should be taken to prevent the occurrence of the disease in children, and an effective preventive program should be set up in the prefecture. World J Pediatr 2012;8(2):140-144