Tuberculosis in Israel: a 10-year survey of an immigrant society

Over a 10-year period (1978-87), 279 tuberculosis (TB) patients were diagnosed at the Soroka Medical Center. Of these, 48% were Ethiopian Jews, 28% Bedouin Arabs, and 24% were Jews of other origins. The Bedouin and Ethiopian patients were younger and had fewer concomitant diseases. The Ethiopian patients were hospitalized longer than other patients. Ethiopian and Bedouin patients were less compliant with therapy. There were 187 cases of pulmonary TB (67%), and 92 cases of extrapulmonary TB (33%). The majority of the Bedouin and Ethiopian patients had pulmonary tuberculosis, while extrapulmonary TB was more frequent among the rest of the patients. It is concluded that TB in the Negev reflects the diversity of its population, with characteristics of both a developing and a developed country.