Epidemiology and endemicity of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Southeastern Nigeria.
The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Southeastern Nigeria was studied using cultures and microscopic examination of sputa. The isolation of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) from sputa of some in- and out-patients in hospitals and health centers revealed the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 420 (31.7%) out of the 1,324 patients examined during a TB outbreak. A mortality rate of 9 (2.14%) of the 420 AFB-positive cases was observed during the study period of 10 months. The most affected age group was between 16 and 35 years, with high incidence rates found in traders (33.8%), health workers (31.0%), and food vendors (13.8%). Male subjects had a higher incidence of 35.6%, compared to 26.9% in females. Intensification of training programs for adequate numbers of medical diagnostic personnel in referral hospitals; public health education and integration of socio-political, cultural and economic frameworks are advocated in the subregion to avert iminent TB epidemic in Southeastern Nigeria.
Itah
Alfred Young
AY
Department of Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, State Nigeria. allyong2001@yahoo.com
Udofia
Silas Michael
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control
D000995:Antitubercular Agents