Until the study in the year1985, the prevalence rate of nontuberculous pulmonary mycobacteriosis has been determined in relation to the prevalence rate of“active lung tuberculosis”reported from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan.However, in the study in the year1986, its prevalence has been determined not only based on the prevalence rate of“active lung tuberculosis”but also in relation to the prevalence rate of culturepositive lung tuberculosis.
The prevalence rate calculated from the prevalence rate of active lung tuberculosis is shown in Table2.The rate was higher in industrial areas of south-western area of Japan, Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka and Fukuoka.The prevalence rate was2.71per10
5population in the year1986.The prevalence rate determined in relation to the prevalence rate of culture-positive lung tuberculosis is shown in Table3.The rate was not so significantly different from the rate determined in relation to the prevalence rate of active lung tuberculosis.The rate was more than3per10
5population in the industrial areas, Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka and Fukuoka, and higher than the rate in the remaining area.
Since1971, the prevalence rate of active lung tuberculosis has been decreasing continuously.The prevalence rate of nontuberculous lung mycobacteriosis has gradually been increasing especially since 1984.Not only the prevalence rate of M.kansasii disease but also the prevalence rate of M.avium complex disease has been increasing gradually (Table4).
Remark.The distribution of causative species in patients found before1985is shown in Table6of the report of the study in the year1985 (Tsukamura, M.et al. (The Myco - bacteriosis Research Group of the Japanese National Chest Hospitals): Kekkaku, 62: 319 - 327, 1987)
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