[Tuberculosis annual report 2009--series 2. TB in foreigners]

Statistics on tuberculosis (TB) in foreigners in Japan have been collected since 1998. The number of foreign TB patients increased from 739 in 1998 to 938 in 2009. In contrast, the number of Japanese TB patients decreased during this period. Hence, the proportion of foreigners among TB patients increased from 2.1% in 1998 to 4.0% in 2009, excluding those of unknown nationality. Especially, the proportion of foreigners among TB patients aged 20-29 years increased greatly from 9.1% in 1998 to 25.4% in 2009. Although the number of nationalities was 38, the majority of patients in 2009 were from China (28.4%), the Philippines (23.6%) and Korea (13.8%). The number of foreign TB patients aged 20-29 years was 427, accounting for 45.5% of all foreign TB patients in 2009. Eighty-one percent of foreign TB patients aged 20-29 years had developed TB within 5 years of entering Japan. The equivalent proportions in those aged 30-39 years and 40-49 years were 49% and 29%. Regarding occupation, 37.2% of foreign TB patients aged 20-29 years were students, 27.2% were full-time workers and 11.7% were part-time workers.