Undernotification of tuberculosis in Otago: national implications

To ascertain the reliability of notification of tuberculosis in Otago; to establish a more accurate incidence rate for cases of tuberculosis in Otago.

Official notification information 1985-93 was cross checked against other record systems.

In the 1985-90 period the official notifications were underestimated by 33% (28/84) and during 1991-2 by 48.5% (17/35). The crude annual incidence rates for all cases were 7.3 per 100,000 for the 1985-90 period and 9.1 per 100,000 for the 1991-3.

The average annual crude incidence rates for tuberculosis were considerably higher than the official rates. Tuberculosis remains an important clinical and public health issue. Improvements in notification locally and nationally are required if the impact of the projected increase in tuberculosis is to be minimised.