RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS IN A POPULATION OF MIGRANTS IN SICILY

The aim of this study was to evaluate all cases of tuberculosis reported in our reference center for immigrants between 2005-10. by analyzing the day-hospital discharge cards. We focused on socio-demographic and clinical data as well as social determinants of disease. We found 64 cases (46 M) of tuberculosis out of 1190 admissions. Africa was the most-represented continent and the disease distribution age ranged between 13 and 73 years. Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for 48.4% of the sample. An analysis of social determinants showed that 84% of the patients were illegal or clandestine subjects and most of them were unemployed, often living in community centers or charity shelters. Our study suggests that tuberculosis is still quite common among the immigrant population, with a higher rate of extra-pulmonary forms than in native Italians and a prevalence of classical presentations in the pulmonary forms, while the more severe expressions of the disease have almost disappeared.