Risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis in different occupations in Gharbia governorate, Egypt

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on a group of [256] tuberculous workers admitted at "Tanta and El Mehalla El Kobra Chest Hospital" during the period from December, 1st 1990 to the end of April 1991. A control group of [256] workers matched by age sex was also studied. Significant differences were found between tuberculous workers and the controls with respect to smoking [X2=88.04], bad nutritional status [X2=24.50], overcrowding [X2=88.04], and low socioeconomic level [X2=4.16]. Also, negative history of B.C.G. vaccination [X2=32.82] and psychological disorders [X2=9.32] were significantly related to tuberculous workers. However, no statistically significant differences existed between tuberculous workers and the controls regarding intercurrent diseases [X2=2.50], history of prolonged corticosteroid therapy [X2=2.00], positive family history [X2=2.48], trauma [X2=2.36] and urbanization [X2=1.08]