Tuberculosis disease in three populations in Zambia.

Of 3010 people from three areas in Zambia who had tuberculin tests performed, 24% of adults and 9% of children complained of chronic coughs. The tuberculosis prevalence rate in people over 9 based on finding typical mycobacteria in the sputum was 5.32 per thousand, and in children (based on large tuberculin reactions) 5.60 per thousand. All but one of the adults complained of chronic cough. The significance of 5 a typical mycobacteria isolated is uncertain.