Tuberculosis in Gouveia and Seia from 1993 to 2002
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v19i6.9988Keywords:
Tuberculosis, Family Medicine, Alcoholism, AIDSAbstract
Objective: To characterize tuberculosis infeccion between 1993 and 2002 in two Beira Interior councils - Gouveia and Seia. Study type: Incidence study with a descriptive observational component. Setting: Centre of Pneumological Diagnosis (CPD) of the Gouveia Health Centre. Population: All tuberculosis patients living in the Gouveia and Seia councils, followed up at CPDs of Gouveia and Guarda, registered between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2002. Methods: Case registration records at individual records from the CPDs of Gouveia and Guarda were studied. These records are the result od direct consultations between patients and doctors. Only variables directly related to the patient and tuberculosis were studied. Results: In 10 years 142 patients were followed up. Average incidence rate of tuberculosis (31.3/100.000) was lower than the national average and seems to be slowly declining. Gender distribution (two thirds male) was the same found nationwide. Less youngsters and more elderly were found than at national level: 35.9% were 64 or older (country:12.7%) and 39.4% were 15-44 years old (country: 64.3%). Middle-lower classes were predominant, with 56.3% of cases. In 83.8% of cases the lower respiratory tract was affected. In 20.4% of cases alcoholism was present, in 7.7% there was diabetes and in 2.1% HIV infection existed. One case of multi-drug resistance and another of poly-drug resistance were found. The study elicited four villages in which the number of cases and younger age set them apart of the whole sample, and three settlements where the alcoholic group was particularly important. Conclusions: Contrary to the national situation, tuberculosis in Gouveia and Seia seems to be responding adequately to measures instituted by the CPDs. There seems to exist a progressive reduction of annual cases and older ages predominate, which suggests recrudescence. Challenges facing the Gouveia CPD include the first case of multi-drug resistant case, the first three HIV-related cases, the high association with alcohol consumption and the identification of four villages straying from the local pattern.Downloads
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