Abdominal tuberculosis: a study of 881 cases

A retrospective study of the epidemiological pattern of abdominal tuberculosis in Ibadan, Nigeria during the 30-year period 1960-1989 has been completed. Among 881 cases seen (355 men and 526 women), children under 10 years represented 10.5% of cases but 78% of all cases were under 40 years. Women accounted for 64% of this number. The peak age incidence was 21-30 years (30.1%). Over 40 years of age, the female incidence fell (9%), so that the male incidence became greater (12%). The population-adjusted annual incidence during the 30-year period showed a gradual decline during the first two decades but a rising trend in the last decade is now evident. The clinical and pathological features were similar to those previously described, but delay in presentation varied between 1 and 14 1/2 months with a mean (SEM) of 5.2 (1.3) months.