[Evaluation of the epidemiologic situation of tuberculosis in Poland and in the world].
The paper describes the current epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in Poland, its trends in the last 2-3 decades and its place on comparison to the global world-wide situation. The incidence of tuberculosis in Poland declined from 182.6 per 100,000 population in 1965 to 43.2 per 100,000 in 1991, but is still at least two times higher than the average for Europe. The rate of decline for the last few decades was about 5.5% annually, but last year an increase has been observed. Among newly detected cases of tuberculosis in Poland in comparison to other European countries there is a higher proportion of young adults, of severe clinical forms, and relatively lower proportion of relapses. The annual risk of tuberculosis infection, the indicator considered as a most reliable one, which ranges from 0.01 to more than 3% worldwide, in Poland as about 0.2%. The highest risk, and prevalence of tuberculosis infection is in African and Asian countries, where there is also the highest prevalence of HIV infection, and consequently an important increase in the incidence of tuberculosis. Such an increase has also been observed in the USA and in some European countries. The increase in the incidence of tuberculosis in Europe however, could not be directly connected with the HIV infection.  The current epidemiological situation of tuberculosis and its worldwide perspectives seem to be closely related to: (i) existing geographical differences in the level of the risk and prevalance of tuberculosis (ii) the level and the spread of HIV infection (iii) the difference in the demographic structure of population in different parts of the world which will determine the frequency of dual (HIV/TB) infection, (iv) the effectiveness of tuberculosis control activities, and (v) the level of migratory movements of population, particularly from countries/areas with high prevalence of tuberculosis. The recently observed increase in the incidence of tuberculosis in many parts of the world including Poland indicates clearly the importance and the necessity to constantly monitor all the changes in the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis and of AIDS/HIV infection [corrected].
Leowski
J
J
Instytut Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc w Warszawie.
Miller
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
Ocena sytuacji epidemiologicznej gruźlicy w Polsce i w świecie.