Tuberculosis epidemiological situation in the world and in Hungary (1882-1982).

The centenary of the discovery of the tuberc bacillus (Koch-centenary) threw light on the unsolved problems of the epidemiology of tuberculosis in the world. Despite of the definitively significant progress made since the turn of the century the world-wide elimination and eradication of tuberculosis is not yet accomplished. Deficiencies in the fight against tuberculosis in the developing countries which represent two-third of the world play firstly a role in it.

[Results of tuberculosis control and development of the organization for pulmonology in Hungary (author's transl)].

The organization of tuberculosis control in Hungary is organized in 3 levels: The central level is represented in the leading Korányi-Institute, the regional level are 19 district care departments for lung diseases, and the local care departments for lung diseases, which are responsible for the practical realization of the control programme. Between the different levels exist a bilateral stream of information, which guarantees the functioning of this organisational structure. At the onset of this century, tuberculosis morbidity in Hungary was 2 to 3 times higher than in the European industrial countries.