Description of demographic and clinical characteristics of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Shandong, China

Background According to the clinical manifestation, tuberculosis (TB) is divided into pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). The incidence rate of EPTB has increased in many countries. The demographic and clinical characteristics of EPTB in China remain still unclear. Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 5,624 hospitalized patients with positive M. tuberculosis culture between January 2008 and June 2013 in Shandong province. We investigated the epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of patients with EPTB. Results Among 5,624 hospitalized TB patients with positive M. tuberculosis culture, 4,277 (76.05 %) had PTB, 618 (10.99 %) had EPTB, and 729 (12.96 %) had both PTB and EPTB. The proportion of EPTB increased significantly from 6.97 % in 2008 to 19.98 % in 2012 (p Conclusion The proportion of EPTB in Shandong province has significantly increased. Clinicians need to be aware of the trend and remain vigilant against EPTB. EPTB requires prolonged treatment, and clinical supervision should be strengthened to prevent drug resistance. HIPPOKRATIA 2020, 24(1): 27-32.