ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS IN INDOCHINESE REFUGEES IN BRITISH-COLUMBIA

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 131  (1) , 39-42
Abstract
The incidence of active tuberculosis in 8692 Indochinese refugees admitted to British Columbia between 1979 and 1981 was reviewed. In the first 3 mo. after entry into the province the rate was extremely high [estimated at 1890/100,000 (126 times the provincial average)]. A large proportion of these cases were of primary or minimal pulmonary tuberculosis. Although the proportion of cases of minimal pulmonary tuberculosis was twice the provincial average, the proportion of these cases that were confirmed by culture was only 1/3 the provincial average; this suggests some overdiagnosis in this period. In the subsequent 21 months of residence the incidence of active tuberculosis was also high, at 353/100,000, which was > 20 times the provincial average. The distribution of cases by severity was closer to the provincial distribution in this period, but advanced disease accounted for a far smaller proportion of cases in both periods than it did in 1980 in the entire province.