[Tuberculosis in children and adolescents in Bavaria]

In 1977 in Bavaria, 7,659 cases (incidents) of tuberculosis were reported. 797 of these cases were children under 15 and 636 were youths between 15 and 20 years of age, that is 1,433 together. The first rise in cases takes place in the age bracket up to 5 years, the second, far greater, between 15 and 25. At the end of 1977 statistics showed the existence (prevalence) of 14,642 tuberculars. Of these, 1,128 were children under 15 and 858 youths between 15 and 20. Administrative districts with the most cases were Lower Bavaria (Niederbayern), Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz), Upper Franconia (Oberfranken), and Middle Franconia (Mittelfranken). In local epidemics 190 youths and children became ill, infected in a dance hall, a discotheque, and a factory, as well as by a kindergarten teacher. Under these unfavorable circumstances a BCG vaccination is imperative. The Bavarian Home Ministry "publicly recommends" the BCG vaccination for infants as well as for all tuberculin negatives who live with people who have tuberculosis or who are otherwise endangered by tuberculosis, However, under the circumstances described, all children and young adults are still endangered by tuberculosis.