Iraqi tuberculosis (2003-2017): an silent hindrance infection

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a common infection and public health problem attacking developing countries or those whose undergo food and drug depleting crisis. Tuberculosis regard important killer among top ten infectious agents and the mortality compile 10% of new registered cases among Asia and Africa. The socio-environmental factors play a vivid role in mass transfer of TB includes: low-ventilation, darkness, wetness and crowdedness. Tuberculosis is a public health priority in Iraq. Iraq regard one of the region of high burden of TB, and accounts for 3% of the total number of cases. There are a predictable 20 000 TB patients in Iraq with death rate of 20% annually. Iraq is one of the six countries (Egypt, Indonesia, Yemen , Netherland and UK) whose compile 9% of total incidence of TB worldwide. The results show high incidence, prevalence and mortality of TB-infected patients in years 2003 and 2004 and this can be interpreted due to bad and high shortage of health service in Iraq directly after 2003 invasion war by US army while years after 2004 (2005-2017) show decrease in incidence, prevalence and mortality. Concern the age groups of patients with TB, it seem the 25-34 years and 15-24 years were most common for male and female respectively. The current review conclude that, decreasing in incidence, prevalence and mortality for last 7 years due to application of national and international health polices of TB in Iraq.