A cross-sectional epidemiological study of tuberculosis in the province of Sidi Kacem, Morocco

INTRODUCTION: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis (TB) is a global emergency and a leading cause of death as a world bacterial disease. This dangerous disease affects poor and vulnerable populations, mainly seniors and children. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of tuberculosis; based on clinical and evolutionary socio-demographic characteristics in the province of Sidi Kacem. METHODS: our study concerned the cases of tuberculosis diagnosed and treated in the center of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases of Sidi Kacem during the years 2018 and 2019. The data were collected from the medical records of tuberculosis patients. RESULTS: we recorded 1059 tuberculosis patients, representing an average rate of 100.77 new cases per 100000 inhabitants. Males represented 64.5% (n=683). The age average was 34.94±16.73 years. The majority of patients, 68.36% (n=724), are between 15 and 44 years old. Extrapulmonary TB represented 42.12% (n=623) compared to 58.88% (n=623) pulmonary TB, 78.30% (n=487) who had positive results for bacilloscopy. A lethality percentage of 1.7% (n=18) had observed. CONCLUSION: tuberculosis in the province of Sidi Kacem is still claiming victims, and all sections of society exposing to this disease. Tuberculosis is more dangerous when it affects the lungs because this form is the one that contributes to infection and spread of the disease and causes more deaths. We hope that this research presented here will stimulate more strategies for adequate and specific case management of pulmonary tuberculosis and encourage treatment adherence.