A Report on the Epidemic Characteristics of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the period of 1998-2003 in Siyang County

Oojective The purpose of this report was to analyze the epidemic characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in Siyang Conunty to offer a scientific basis for controlling the transmission of TB.Methods Statistical analysis was made on the newly registered epidemic data of pulmonary tuberculosis from 1998-2003 in Siyang County and the numbers at different ages were induced according to the ratio of ages in 2000 nationlal population census. Results In the period of 1998 to 2003，there were 2 903 cases of newly registered active TB in Siyang County with an annual average new registration rate of 41.82 per 100 thousnand，indicting a increasing tendency.In the last three years since TB control project was implemented in spet，2001，the annual average smear-positive new registration rate was remarkably higher than that in the previous 3 years. The number of male patients was signifcantly higher than the femle as for annual average new registration rate and smear positive registration rate，and the rate of new registra-tion increased with age. The ratio of composition for newly registered eases displayed a down trend since the first quarter.The highest ratio in active and smear positive TBs esisted in farmers. Conclusion The epidernic situation of TB was turning worse Since Sept 1st，2001 when Jiangsu CIDA-WHO-TB control project was first commenced，we had obtained remarkable grades in detecting smear positive patients It had features in distribution of age，sex，season and occupation，being sporadic in occurrence It was found that the major factors contributing to the epidernic include expanded scope of activity among young adults，strong resistance of bacillus tuberculosis to dry environments，poor economic condition and sanitatbn and health care sense for farmers and substandard therapy，etc. The government and social depart ments should be appealed to put emphasis on and fulfill modern TB control strategies(DOTS)so as to prevent the transission of tuberculosis.