title: Epidemiology of urogenital tuberculosis worldwide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the epidemiology of urogenital tuberculosis worldwide and to compare the features of patients from developing countries to those from developed countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive search of articles published up to April 2008 using a combination of the terms 'tuberculosis', 'genitourinary', 'renal' and 'urogenital' was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urogenital tuberculosis affects more men than women (2:1), with a mean age of 40.7 years (range 5-90). In 26.9% of cases there is a non-functioning unilateral kidney and in 7.4%, renal failure. Patients from developing countries are more likely to have a delayed diagnosis with a higher frequency of renal failure, unilateral non-functioning kidney, ablative surgery and contracted bladder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urogenital tuberculosis is a worldwide disease with more destructive behavior in developing countries where urgent strategies for early detection are particularly warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. andreavaresef@gmail.com
authors.forename: Andre Avarese
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Antonio Marmo
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lucon
authors.forename: Renato Falci
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Junior
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srougi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014401:Tuberculosis, Urogenital / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult