W K Kalaajieh1. 1. Health Faculty, Lebanese University, Tripoli.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify the epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) in Lebanon; a review covering the period from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1996. DESIGN: Descriptive analysis of surveillance data of all new cases of active TB reported to the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon. RESULTS: A total of 1111 patients were males and 832 patients were females; 5 % of the patients were below the age of 5 years and 19% below the age of 15. The geographical distribution of TB patients shows that 38.4% of the patients were residents of Beirut, and 27.2% residents of North Lebanon. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the existence of a potentially large TB reservoir in Lebanon, especially in the areas of Beirut and North Lebanon. Health workers should be alerted to the importance of continual case finding, effective treatment, control of infection transmission and the continued abatement of the tuberculosis problem in the years to come.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) in Lebanon; a review covering the period from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1996. DESIGN: Descriptive analysis of surveillance data of all new cases of active TB reported to the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon. RESULTS: A total of 1111 patients were males and 832 patients were females; 5 % of the patients were below the age of 5 years and 19% below the age of 15. The geographical distribution of TB patients shows that 38.4% of the patients were residents of Beirut, and 27.2% residents of North Lebanon. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the existence of a potentially large TB reservoir in Lebanon, especially in the areas of Beirut and North Lebanon. Health workers should be alerted to the importance of continual case finding, effective treatment, control of infection transmission and the continued abatement of the tuberculosis problem in the years to come.