An evaluation of gender differences in the epidemiology of tuberculosis

Objective: In most countries of Tuberculosis (TB) are reported among men twice as many as among women. However, gender differences vary in different age groups and in different parts of the world. The aim of this retrospective epidemiologic study was to examine gender difference in the rate and clinical presentations of tuberculosis. Matherial and methods: Notification rates of tuberculosis during the past tree-periods here obtained from the Tuberculosis (TB) Dispensary of Sivas Province. Additionally, between 1994 and 2004 years, 1.436 TB cases notified by the TB Dispensary were evaluated to provide information about the current status of TB in both genders. Results: The rate of tuberculosis in tree periods was consistently higher in men than in women. The gender difference in rates was highest among those 40-59 years of age. Between 1994 and 2004 years, the rate of tuberculosis has continued to rise among those aged over 65 years in both gender. There was a higher proportion of extra-pulmonary TB in women than men; the main site of involvement was the lymph nodes. Conclusions: Substantial differences were found between both genders in the rate and clinical presentations of tuberculosis in this region. These results suggest that management programmes of TB should be pay attention to gender differences in patients with TB.