RESUMO
This study was conducted to measure tuberculosis incidence rates and reveal epidemiological characteristics, clinical features and treatment outcome of tuberculosis [TB] cases among school students in Alexandria. A retrospective analysis of medical records was carried out for 609 registered consecutive tuberculosis cases who were attending tuberculosis center affiliated to chest clinic in Alexandria school students' hospital during 5 year-period [1997-2001]. Incidence of tuberculosis among school students declined from 16. 84/100, 000 in 1997 to 14. 69/100, 000 in 2001. The age of cases ranged from 5 to 20 with an average of 11. 55 +/- 3.65 years. The female/male ratio was 0.88. One third [33.0%] of cases were of extrapulmonary type. The remaining [67%] of cases were pulmonary TB, of which [9.85%] were smear positive cases. The average age of smear positive pulmonary TB cases was significantly higher than that of smear negative ones and that of extrapulmonary type [P<0. 00]. Females accounted for 60 % of smear positive cases [36 out of 60 cases]. All cases of this group received directly observed therapy. Treatment outcomes over 5-year period revealed 86.7% cure rate for smear positive cases, one case with drug resistant strains, one defaulter and death of one patient due to an associated illness. Despite an efficient tuberculosis-control program in this center as indicated by high cure rate, the relatively high incidence rate of new cases among school students indicates that tuberculosis is still a problem in schools. This calls for the importance of TB screening especially in secondary schools for early detection and proper management of smear positive pulmonary TB cases