Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in Nigeria, being one of the ten leading causes of hospital admissions, and a leading cause of death in adults, especially among the economically productive age group. Nigeria ranks number four in World Health Organisations list of 22 high burden countries worldwide that account for about 80% of the estimated number of TB cases globally and first in Africa. The emergence of anti tuberculosis drug resistance is an increasing public health problem and TB control programmes in industrialised and developing countries alike. he magnitude of TB in the Nigeria is unknown because population based TB prevalence survey is yet to be conducted, but according to WHO estimates for 2007, the country has an estimated 772,000 cases of all forms of TB, estimated prevalence of 521/100,000 and 195,000 new smear positive cases.
Last date updated on April, 2024