[Report on fourth national epidemiological sampling survey of tuberculosis].
To investigate the epidemiological trend of tuberculosis, to evaluate the efficacy of control measures and to provide scientific basis for making National Tuberculosis Control Programme 2001 approximately 2010.



Tuberculin testing was carried out among 0 approximately 14 years old children; fluroscopy was carried out for >/= 15 years old population and children with >/= 10 mm reaction of tuberculin testing; chest X-ray film, sputum smear and culture were done for the patients of fluroscopy abnormal and suspects of tuberculosis symptom (persistent cough for 3 weeks or more); drug sensitivity test was done for the patients with culture positive; a retrospective study of tuberculosis mortality in 1999 was conducted at all investigation points; social economic study was done for the active pulmonary tuberculosis cases; the survey of tuberculosis infection rate for all population was carried out in 59 investigation points.



The population actually examined in this survey numbered 365 097. The examination rate was more than 95%. The prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis was 367/100 000, the prevalence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis was 122/100 000 and the prevalence of bacteriological positive pulmonary tuberculosis was 160/100 000. In comparison with 1979, the annual reduction rates were 4.5% for the standardized prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis and 3.8% for the standardized prevalence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis. In comparison with 1990, the annual reduction rates were 5.4% and 3.2%, respectively. The smear positive prevalence standardized showed a 44.4% decrease in the regions of implementing project of Health V but only 12.3% decrease in the regions without the project. The prevalence in the west region was higher than national average prevalence.



The epidemic of tuberculosis is still serious and prevalence decrease was slow. The governments at different levels must pay more attention to tuberculosis control programme, increase budget, implement DOTS strategy.
Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumour Research Institute, 101149 Beijing, China.
Duanmu
Hongjin
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality