Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Rhode Island

The increase in the reported cases of tuberculosis in Rhode Island from 1985 to 1991 has been striking. This rise has occurred at a faster rate than that for the United States overall. Although the HIV epidemic is largely to blame for the resurgence of tuberculosis nationwide, its impact on tuberculosis locally has been muted. The rise in reported cases in Rhode Island is attributable mainly to increased cases among minority groups, particularly Southeast Asians. Blacks and Hispanics are likewise at an increased risk for developing active disease. Especially alarming is the dramatic rise in the number of tuberculosis cases reported in children in Rhode Island, a reflection of active disease transmission in the community. The Rhode Island Tuberculosis Control Program, already functioning at full capacity, must find ways of curbing the growing tuberculosis problem.