Racial differences in susceptibility to tuberculosis: risk of disease after infection.

It is generally believed that certain racial groups are highly susceptible to tuberculosis disease while others have developed a "natural resistance." Epidemiological studies reporting differences in case rates among different racial groups, provide inconclusive evidence. Many factors influence the development of active tuberculosis including sex, age, body weight, and virulence of the infecting organism. These, as well as other factors, may be more important determinants which, up to now, have been confused with race.