TUBERCULOSIS Y SIDA EN MÉXICO

Tuberculosis (TB) still is an important health problem in Mexico. According to reported figures, an excess in the number of cases has occurred during recent years, mainly among young adults of both sexes. The present estimated rate of TB is 51.7 cases/100,000 inhabitants. This is the most frequent endemic infection among AIDS patients, ranking third among infectious diseases after candidiasis and P. carinii pneumoniae. A total of8.3% of the 19 352 AIDS cases notified to July 1994, pre- sented TB as the initial manifestation. According to sen- tinel surveillance carried out since 1990 in 17 states, HIV seroprevalence among TB patients has been 3.1 % (0-6.5%) in males and 1.0% (0-2.3%) in females. Results of epidemiologic research in the field of TB prevention and characteristics of drug sensitivity of strains of M. tuberculosis isolated from HIV/AIDSpatients are also described. Finally, perspectives of TB prevention and control are discussed.