Epidemiological aspects of tuberculosis in middle west of Madagascar
Rakotondramarina, D.; Razafimalala, F.; Andrianaivo, P.; Rabeson, D.; Andriatsiva, R.; Andrianavalomahefa, W.
Bulletin de la Societe de Pathologie Exotique 93(5): 337-339
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-9085 PMID: 11775320 Document Number: 514797
We conducted a 5-year (1989-1993) retrospective analysis on a series of patients screened and treated for tuberculosis in order to determine the epidemiological aspects of the disease in mid-western Madagascar. Pulmonary forms affected 97% of patients, and predominantly men (sex ratio: 1.4); 83% of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were coughing up acido-alcoholo-resitant bacilli. Haemoptysis and general deterioration, the most frequently met pathological signs, were observed respectively in 62% and 24% of cases. This explains the high rate of hospitalisation (42%), especially for patients with difficult access to services. Significantly, in terms of socio-professional category, live-stock breeders and farmers represented 32% of notified cases, and cattle-traders 18%. We draw attention to the possible role played by Mycobacterium bovis in human case-findings in a region characterised by cattle-breeding.