There are 2 billion people in the world infected with tuberculosis bacteria, who are at risk of developing the disease (1,2,3). In Bulgaria, tuberculosis has a medium level of distribution between 12-80 in 100
000. In Varna region, in 2009, the newly registered cases with the disease were 106 and the sickness rate is 23 in 100 000. During the following years there is an alarming tendency for increase in the sick- ness rate, so that in 2011 in Varna region it reached 28.36%000. There is a tendency for increase in tu- berculosis cases among young people. In 2009 the case rate in the under 18 age group was 5.78%000. After that it has risen - 15.7%000 (in 2010), and 21.69%000 (in 2011). From the group of the infect- ed, 10% develop active tuberculosis (3), and in 90% of the infected, the causes of tuberculosis remain in a latent state in the organism. This state may be violated if the body is subjected to immunological suppression by prolonged stress, poor diet, smoking, alcohol abuse, diabetes and others (4). Tuberculosis is a social problem and the increase of its spread is associated primarily with economic recession, pov- erty, malnutrition, alcohol abuse, drug abuse and overcrowding (3,4).
In times of economic crisis we see a decline in the standard of living and an increase in major diseases, including tuberculosis.
Assessing the health and the social significance of the problem our OBJECTIVE is: to examine the liv- ing conditions, health knowledge and habits of stu- dents regarding the prevention of tuberculosis.
Максимов Вл. Проблеми на белодробната туберкулоза. Наука Пулмология 2009;1:3.
WHO. 2009 update Tuberculosis facts Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/ who104/en/print.html
Торосян А., Методи за диагностициране на латентна туберкулозна инфекция, Мединфо, 2007; 7(12):1-2
Бенчев Б, Туберкулозата като глобален проблем за общественото здраве. Инфекциозни заболявания, 2005; 36(1):3-8.
Lin, H-H., Ezzati, M., Murray, M., Tobacco Smoke, Indoor Air Pollution and Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS Med, 2007; 4(1):e20.
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E. et al. Alcohol use as a risk factor for tuberculo- sis – a systematic rewiew. BMC Public Health, 2008;8:289.
Singh, M., Mynak, M., Kumar, L., et al. Preva- lence and risk factors for transmission of infection among children in household contact with adults having pulmonary tuberculosis. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2005;90(6):624-628
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Tsankova G, Yustiniyanova B. Medical stu- dents’ knowledge of the characteristic features and prevention of tuberculosis. Journal of IMAB, 2010;16(3):48-50.
