Extract
In the past 20 years, following several decades of decline, the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the UK has increased. The characteristics of TB cases have changed, from a disease that was predominantly pulmonary and widespread in the population [1], to one that is concentrated in major urban areas affecting immigrants, the homeless, prisoners and drug users [2], with a high proportion of extrapulmonary disease [3]. The signs and symptoms of TB are shared with many other diseases. Therefore, knowledge of the epidemiology of TB and current associated risk factors is essential in informing a diagnosis [4].
Abstract
The changing epidemiology of TB in low incidence settings has implications for TB diagnosis and therefore elimination http://ow.ly/KN6Vq
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: None declared.
- Received November 21, 2014.
- Accepted March 8, 2015.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015