title: Epidemiology and endemicity of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Southeastern Nigeria.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, State Nigeria. allyong2001@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alfred Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Itah
authors.forename: Silas Michael
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Udofia
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents