In 1979, a total of 43 tuberculous meningitis cases aged 0-14 were notified in all over Japan. Its incidence rate was 0.16 per 100, 000 population. Seventy percent of the cases were children aged 0 to 4. Poor prognosis of the disease was revealed by the follow-up study for nine months on the average after the onset of the disease: 23% died, 30% were alive with serious sequelae.
Epidemiological and sociomedical discussions were made on the factors influencing the prognosis of the disease and on possibilities of reducing the risk of the disease by improving the current tuberculosis control activities.