EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL OVERVIEW OF TUBERCULOSIS IN THE BATURITÉ HEALTH REGION - CE

Abstract

Tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, also known as Koch's bacillus, is transmitted through the air via droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks loudly. This study seeks to outline the epidemiological and clinical landscape of tuberculosis in the Baturité health region between 2001 and 2022. Conducted in March 2024, the study is ecological, descriptive, and quantitative, based on data from DATASUS. Data analysis revealed that the disease was most prevalent among males (64.5%), those aged 35 to 44 years (23.1%), and those who self-identified as brown-skinned (70.5%). In terms of clinical manifestation, the pulmonary form was the most prevalent. Among extrapulmonary cases, there was an association of the disease with the pleural region (3.2%). Regarding clinical outcome, most cases resulted in cure (72.0%), although a significant proportion of patients did not achieve successful treatment (28%). Tuberculosis was found to be predominant among adult brown men, with the pulmonary form being the most common and a high cure rate. These findings reinforce the ongoing need for epidemiological surveillance programs, especially in tuberculosis control, that consider the demographic disparities of those affected and ensure an effective response to disease control in the region.

Keywords: Koch's Bacillus; Pulmonary Tuberculosis; Epidemiology; DATASUS.