ABSTRACT
Information on notified tuberculosis cases collected by the Algerian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Ministère de la Santé et des Affaires Sociales Algérien) from 1982-1990 show that 13,916 cases were notified in 1982 and 10,864 in 1990, of which 67%-71% were cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (TP) and 25-29% cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TEP). New cases of smear-positive TP represented 49-55.4% of all cases and the majority of TP (69-79% depending on the year). These forms particularly affected men aged between 20 and 39 and both men and women over the age of 60. The annual incidence of tuberculosis of all forms fell by 40.3% in 9 years, from 72 cases per 100,000 in 1982 to 43 cases in 1990. Similarly, the annual incidence of smear-positive TP fell from 32 per 100,000 to 22 cases (a decline of 37%), and mainly affected the age group 20-39 years. Lymphadenitis remained the most common TEP (a total of 32% in 1990), the fall in incidence of which was similar to that of TP, although slightly less marked. Whilst a firm diagnosis of new TP cases is provided mainly by direct smear examination, TEP are unfortunately rarely confirmed. The HIV pandemic, which has hardly touched Algeria as yet, does not for the moment play a significant role in tuberculosis morbidity in the community.
