Tuberculosis in the Potteries 1971-74.

Notification rates of all forms of tuberculosis have increased in all age-groups in the Potteries, in a stable population which includes only a small immigrant community. The increase is greatest in both males and females over the age of 65 years and under 15 years. High notification rates have been recorded in workers in the pottery and mining industries and were unrelated to pneumoconiosis. Discrepancies have been found between the numbers of notified cases and the numbers of laboratory isolates of tubercle bacilli, particularly in cases of non-respiratory disease. This indicates that not all proven cases of tuberculosis are notified. The study has revealed serious deficiencies in the contact-tracing procedure in certain areas of the Potteries consequent upon the closure and reorganisation of outlying chest clinics.