title: [Tuberculosis in Havana City, 1995-1999].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tuberculosis is a worldwide health problem getting a prioritized attention by the Cuban National Health System. To describe the main indicators of the Cuban Tuberculosis Control Program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on surveillance data from the Provincial Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the health care network and strategies of the tuberculosis control program were reviewed; incidence rates, case finding indicators, diagnosis and case management were described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight subjects with respiratory symptoms were found per 1,000 attending general medical care services. The incidence rates of all tuberculosis types declined from 16.4 in 1995 to 12.0 x 10(5) people in 1999. Pulmonary tuberculosis incidence rate was reduced from 15.1 in1995 to 10.4 x 10(5) in 1999, whereas extrapulmonary tuberculosis had an increment from 1.3 to 1.6 x 10(5) in the same period. Of all new cases, 40-50 % were diagnosed at multispecialty clinics, 67.6% were diagnosed by positive smears, 15.2 % by positive cultures, 13.8 % by clinical and X-rays evidences only; and 0.9 % and 1.5 % were respectively diagnosed by biopsy and necropsy. There was an increase in the incidence rate in the age group 15-64 years in 1996 and 1997 but it declined again in 1998 and 1999. The age group 64 years and over showed a rate reduction from 1995 to 1999. In general, incidence rates diminished in the overall period. The average delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis improved from 42 days in 1995 to 28.6 days in 1999.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There seems to be a halt in reporting trends of new cases in 1996. Tuberculosis indicators reveal satisfactory changes in the study period.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiología, Grupo Provincial de Tuberculosis, Centro Provincial de Higiene y Epidemiología de la Ciudad de La Habana, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: José I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Sevy Court
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Peláez Sánchez
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Arteaga Yero
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Armas Pérez
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borroto Gutiérrez
authors.forename: C Edilberto
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: González Ochoa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000639:trends; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D018563:Disease Notification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*