[Epidemiology of tuberculosis: a global, European and Polish perspective].
Tuberculosis (TB) still remains a significant global health problem. At present, it has been estimated that one-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. A total of 8-9 million new cases and 2 million deaths are recorded annually, ranking TB as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organization, by 2015 almost 1 billion people will become newly infected, about 200 million will develop the disease, and 35 million will die of TB, if the current trends continue. A number of factors have contributed to the global TB crisis, among which low case detection rates, the emergence of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains, coinfection with HIV, increased influx of immigrants from countries with a high incidence of TB, socioeconomic decline and deterioration of health care services seem to be most crucial. Although TB occurs predominantly in low-income and middle-income countries that account for as much as 95% of all new cases and 98% of all TB deaths, the disease persists in the populations of the developed countries, posing a potential risk for its resurgence. This review provides an update of the epidemiological situation of TB in the world, Europe, and Poland.
Zakład Mikrobiologii Instytutu Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc w Warszawie. t.jagielski@igichp.edu.pl
Tomasz
T
Jagielski
Ewa
E
Augustynowicz-Kopeć
Zofia
Z
Zwolska
D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*