[Surveillance of tuberculosis in the Czech Republic in 1991]

They authors present an interim report on the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis and the effectiveness of control measures as regards tuberculosis in the Czech Republic in 1991. The data are compared with previous years. The incidence of tuberculosis of all forms was 19.9/100,000 population, TB of the respiratory organs 16.2/100,000 and the incidence of bacteriologically confirmed respiratory TB 11.5/100,000 population. As compared with previous years, no statistically significant differences were found. Extrapulmonary TB accounted for less than 10% of the incidence, the position was similar also as regards mycobacterioses other than TB. The incidence of TB in children was 1.3/100,000 children under 15 years, after a transient increase in 1990 (microepidemic in gypsy children), a marked decline was recorded. The TB mortality rate was low (1.1/100,000 population), the prevalence to the date of Dec. 31 1991 was 21.7/100,000 population. On account of complaints 76% new cases were detected, the majority within 1 month, antituberculous treatment was effective, the mean period of treatment was reduced to less than 8 months. However, long in-patient treatment persists usually at the beginning of antituberculous treatment (3 months).