Population dynamics and tuberculosis: a cross sectional study of an overlooked disease in Saudi Arabia.
BACKGROUND
International travel, migration and human population movements facilitate the spread of tuberculosis (TB).


OBJECTIVE
To study the impact of poorly screened expatriates working in Saudi Arabia on the local incidence of TBs.


METHODS
This cross sectional study was carried out in the Chest Disease Hospital, Taif. All confirmed cases of TB from June 2009 to May 2010 admitted to the hospital were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were diagnosed cases of TB (pulmonary & extra-pulmonary) in patients between the ages of 14 to 65 years. Patients with HIV and coexistent malignancies were excluded. The age, gender and ethnic group of each patient was recorded, and patients were divided into two groups. Of the two groups, Group A consisted of Taif residents and group B of patients referred from other cities in the country.


RESULTS
Of the 686 cases studied, 370 (54%) were Saudi nationals (Group A = 80 & Group B = 290) and 316 (46%) cases were from other countries. Males outnumbered females and most of the patients were aged 20 to 29 years. The number of cases from the areas close to the pilgrimage sites, i.e. Makah (233) and Jeddah (275), outnumbered those in Taif (110).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study identifies an increased prevalence of TB cases in areas close to the pilgrimage (Group B). The higher proportion of non-Saudi TB patients in group B is most likely explained by the higher number of poorly screened illegal expatriates in the region.
Dept. of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
Jamal
J
Al-Bishri
Dept. of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
Ibrahim
I
Masoodi
Dept. of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
Mubarki
M
Adnan
Dept. of Medicine, Chest Disease Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Malik
M
Tariq
Dept. of Medicine, Chest Disease Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Harthi
H
Abdullah
Dept. of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
Thubaiti
T
Abdulgoni
Dept. of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
Guraibi
G
Bander
Dept. of Medicine, Chest Disease Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Mansoor
M
Altalhi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
illegal expatriates; pilgrims; poor socioeconomic status; tuberculosis