Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis: a high frequency in the absence of HIV infection.
METHODS
A tuberculosis centre for the diagnosis, management and control of all tuberculosis in a region in Western Canada with a population of approximately 1.2 million.


OBJECTIVE
To measure the proportion of cases of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in relation to country of birth, age and gender of the subject.


METHODS
A prospective study of all patients with tuberculosis diagnosed during a five-year period, 1990-1994. Information relating to age, country of birth and details relating to their tuberculosis were all gathered and stored on a computerised tuberculosis register.


RESULTS
A total of 351 patients with tuberculosis were diagnosed during the five-year period. Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, defined as disease which, with the exception of miliary tuberculosis, was not associated with lung involvement, was diagnosed in 160 (46%) of the patients. The incidence of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, especially lymph node disease, tended to be higher in younger patients but was significantly higher in immigrants from Asia in whom the majority (61%) presented with extra-pulmonary disease. Less than 2% of the subjects in this study were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).


CONCLUSIONS
Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for approximately half of the cases of tuberculosis in a western Canadian tuberculosis centre. This high frequency of extra-pulmonary disease was not attributable to HIV infection.
Cowie
R L
RL
Tuberculosis Services for Southern Alberta, Calgary, Canada.
Sharpe
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology