[Comparison of epidemiological data on pulmonary tuberculosis in Sorocaba, Säo Paulo, Brazil, (1986-1996)]

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a serious public health problem in Brazil. Data were collected relating to the patients' health before diagnosis and also to the time lag between this diagnosis and the beginning of specific treatment over a period of three months. Fifty patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis were questioned about: symptomatology before diagnosis, lapse between the occurrence of the first symptoms and the beginning of treatment and relationship with AIDS. There had been no significant change in the time-lag between the time of discovery of new cases and the beginning of treatment, over the last ten years.