Comparison of pulmonary and extrapulmonary localizations of tuberculosis in the course of an epidemiological survey (Gironde,1995-1996)

Purpose. - Data collected during the years 1995 and 1996 in the course of a n epidemiological survey of tuberculosis in Gironde allowed comparison of p ulmonary tuberculosis with extrapulmonary localizations, evaluation of the importance of each localization and highlighting of potential risk factors. Methods. - patients living in Gironde who had evidence of either clinical, radiological or bacteriological expression of tuberculosis were included in the survey. Statistical comparisons were done using either Pearson's chi(2 ) or Fisher's exact test. Results. - The survey included 292 cases subdivided into 183 cases of pulmo nary tuberculosis (63%) and 109 cases in which another localization had bee n diagnosed (37%). Extrapulmonary localizations that were the most often en countered either alone or in association with pulmonary localization were t he following: lymphadenopathy (32%), pleural (28%), genito-urinary (12%) an d osteo-articular localizations (7%). The survey showed that patients in wh om tuberculosis localization was extra-pulmonary were more frequently under 20 years of age or over 60 years of age (P < 0,04). These patients also pr esented more often with HN-infection (P < 0,02). Conclusion, - Extrapulmonary localizations of tuberculosis should be system atically investigated in young and elderly patients as well as in HIV-infec ted patients. (C) 1998 Elsevier, Paris.