Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a major problem in
developing countries. TB in Egypt is considered an important
public health problem. Egypt is ranked among the mid-level
incidence countries.
Objective To evaluate TB status in 19 governorates and to
compare the TB situation in Upper and Lower Egypt over 20
years from 1992 to 2012 before and after the application of
directly observed treatment short-course strategy (DOTS).
Patients and methods This is a retrospective study involving
record review. The registered data were collected from TB
registration units in the 19 governorates.
Results The highest percentage of TB cases was in the age
group 15–30 years. Infection was higher in males than
females and in rural areas more than urban areas. Pulmonary
TB and smear positivity at diagnosis, second, third, and fifth
month were higher in Lower Egypt. Treatment after failure or
relapse was significantly higher in Upper Egypt, whereas
default rate, failure rate, and death rate were significantly
higher in Lower Egypt. Regarding treatment outcome, cure,
complete treatment, and transfer out were significantly
increased after DOTS than before. Failure, default, and death
were significantly reduced after DOTS than before DOTS.
Upper Egypt included higher incidence rates of TB, new adult
smear-positive cases, new extrapulmonary TB cases, and
sputum conversion rate at the end of the initial phase of
treatment. Cure rate and treatment success rate weretransfer out rate and retreatment failure rate were significantly
higher among Lower Egypt patients.
Conclusion TB is still a health problem in Egypt, with
pulmonary TB more in Lower Egypt, whereas extrapulmonary
more in Upper Egypt, but after the introduction of DOTS, there
is a significant increase in cure and success rate, with
markers of success being more in Upper Egypt. |
