Tuberculosis in a general hospital: high incidence of extrapulmonary disease

Twenty six patients with tuberculosis were admitted between 1979 and 1982 to the Tel Aviv Medical Center. Most were immigrants from Eastern Europe. In contrast to previous studies, patients were relatively young (mean age 57 years) and lacked predisposing medical illness. Eighteen (69%) had extrapulmonary infections, half of which involved the genitourinary tract. Two instances of miliary tuberculosis were diagnosed at autopsy.