Background: To know the clinical features of tuberculosis in our environment, to evaluate its diagnostic techniques and therapeutic options as well as the evolution of patients.
Patients and methods: Multicenter retrospective study of 1115 patients with tuberculosis, diagnosed between 1984 and 1988 in the population based areas of 7 Hospitals from Andalusia (Spain).
Results: The mean age was less than 40 ages, the exponential growing of the number of cases a year in which the influence of drug addicts could be an important factor, an elevated proportion (45%) of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and disseminated forms, and a social environment of 20% of cases being alcoholics or drug addicts. A good use of diagnostic techniques is recorded, although the use of culture as diagnostic tools is lacking. The usual treatment was three drugs for nine months. The global evolution seems good. However a global mortality of 6.4% is recorded, mainly in disseminated forms and among patients with risk factors for developing tuberculosis.
Summary: We have seen an increment among tuberculosis cases, as well as a change in the clinical spectrum of the disease, linked to social illness and drug addiction. The diagnostic approach to tuberculosis seems to be appropriate. The follow up of patients is somewhat confusing.