[New and readmitted cases of tuberculosis reported in the first half of 1996]

Data from TB notification forms, completed between 1.01-30.06.1996, were stored in National TB Database and used to compute TB notification rate structure and the other informations commented here. Yearly notification rate for 1996 was estimated as twice the value for the first 6 months. During the first 6 months, 13488 patients were notified with tuberculosis. Estimated annual notification rate (118.9/100,000) represents an increase of 15.9% as compared to 1995. 87.5% in comparison with 1989 and 113.1% as compared to 1985. Considering TB notifications in 1985 as reference, this increase supplied a cumulative overload of 57438 patients. TB notifications rate shows large differences between districts varying from: 193.3/100,000 (Dolj district) to 43.9/100,000 (Covasna district). Sex differences were also important: 172.9/100,000 in males (301.3/100,000 in Dolj district but 69.8/100,000 in Covasna) and 67.3/100,000 in females (102.9/10,000 in Vranceu but 18.7/100,000 in Convasna). There were large differences in pleural th notification rates (from 32.0/100,000 in Vrancea to 4.3/100,000 in Covasna) and extrapulmonary tb notification rates in various country districts, the lower rates rising the idea of a possible underdiagnosis. 66.9% of notified pulmonary tb cases were smear or culture positive (67.2/100,000), with district values between 97.0% (116.9/100,000) in Mehedinţi and 37.3% (39.5/100,000) in Sălaj, the lower values could rather be explained by the quality of the sputum examinations than by severity profile of patients.