[Case finding in Stuttgart 1980-1985. Diagnosing institutions and cause for diagnosis]

From January 1, 1980, to April 30, 1985 in Stuttgart of 537 adult cases of registered bacteriologically confirmed endothoracic tuberculosis 31.1% were detected by the Public Health Office, of the 435 cases without bacteriological confirmation 40.9%. The rate of detection by general practitioners was 2.4 and 2.6 respectively in these groups from 1980 to 1982 and increased to 10.3 and 10.5% from 1983 to 1985. With bacteriological confirmation 54.6% were detected because of symptoms, 10.2% by general examination, 7.8% by mass miniature X-ray, and 27.4% by other active diagnostic measures. Without bacteriologic confirmation the figures are 41.4, 4.1, 17.9, and 36.6%. Only very few differences as given by nationality, sex and age are statistically significant. Two of three cases with bacteriologic confirmation were positive by direct smear. If the detection was by symptoms the percentage is 74.4 which should be compared with 58.2% by general examination, 50.0% by mass miniature X-ray, and 59.2% by other active diagnostic measures. Active diagnostic must be continued in risk groups.