It is estimated that there are approximately 500,000 patients with active pulmonary
tuberculosis and less than 4,000 sanatorium beds in Korea(7). Therefore, the majority of
patients including those who are infections remain at home and come to the clinic for
drugs and X-rays.
The importance of contact examination in tuberculosis has been recognized for many
year. It is probable that the first organized scheme for the examination of contacts was
in Edinburgh in 1887(1). Attempts were made to diagnose the disease at an early stage
and to institute treatment. The importance of contact examination and of the increased
tuberculosis morbidity among contacts was stressed by various authors(2,3).
The purpose of this study is to present the morbidity rates of tuberculosis contacts
and to find factors which influence it. It is also felt that this study might give us
valuable information as to the most useful methods in the control of the disease.
1. A total of 900 index cases were registered at Chest Clinic in Severance, Red Cross,
Seoul City Dongboo, Joongboo and Seoul City Yong Dung Po Hospitals in 1959. Of
these index cases there were 3,526 household contacts.
2. Among these contacts 3,002, or 85.2%, were X-rayed and 357, or 11.9% were found
to have active pulmonary tuberculosis.
3. The attendance was lower in the older age groups and children under ten years of
age. The attendance was slightly better for female than for male contacts.
4. Morbidity rates are closely related to the age, sex extant of disease, bacteriologic
status of source cases and relationship to their source cases and also according to
whether they live in the same or a different room.
5. The morbidity rate varies considerably according to the age and sex of the
contacts.
6. In primary tuberculosis parents were the main source of the infection.
7. There was a considerable number of hidden source cases among the older age
group of contacts.
8. The examination of contacts is the most effective way to find active cases, to
make an early diagnosis and to institute treatment.
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