CONCLUSION
1. Since November 1960, a nation-wide tuberculosis case finding service was done in
Western Samoa for 29 months. It revealed that 113,657 persons were registered. Of the
55,702 children aged 6 months to 14 years, 93.9% of them or 52,342 children were
tuberculin tested with T.T.U. PPD, RT 23 with Tween 80 and read, and 2,446 children
of 4.7% showed transverse diameter of induration 10mm or more. Of the 56,060 persons,
15years and over, 52,125 persons or 92.9% were chest x-rayed, and 2.7% of them or
1440 persons showed significant pulmonary lesions, suggestive of pulmonary
tuberculosis. 312 cases or 0.6% of total chest x-rayed showed positive sputum for M.
tuberculosis.
2. The results of one year domiciliary chemotherapy in Savai´i Island, showed fairly
satisfactory bacteriological and roentgenological improvements: 67.3.% of roentgenological
improvement among the 387 cases reviewed or 71.3% of 472 chemetherapy cases
registered. Among the 78 pre-treatment bacteriology positive cases, 66 cases or 84.6f%
were converted to negative on both smear and culture.
3. 111 cases not reviewed includes 27% of sputum positive cases and 43% of
advanced cases.. It indicates a great danger in public health in the future of tuberculosis
and further indicates the area of improvement. It is largely due to the frequent
population movement (10-30% per annum), frequent changes in name, and lack of
understanding and even unknown fear..
4. There is no detectable skin sensitivity to both Histoplasmin, and Coccidioidin in
both Samoan and Tokelauan.
5. There is a fairly high rate of non-specific tuberculin reaction observed in both
Tokelau and Samoa especially among persons aged 15 years and over.
6. There is a relatively high prevalence of pulmonary calcifications and which is
apparently not entirely due to tuberculosis. Neither histoplasmosis nor Coccidioidomycosis
attribute to this cause.
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