A GP guide to tuberculosis in Australia
Increasing migration from countries with a high incidence of TB means GPs in Australia are still likely to encounter infected patients
Tuberculosis is not a common problem in Australia. There are about 1100 cases a year throughout the country, and this figure has been stable for many years. However, 86% of TB cases in Australia occur in those born overseas.
Indigenous Australians are also six times more likely to be affected than non-Indigenous Australians.
There are several high-burden countries for TB among the top 10 countries of origin for migrants to Australia. These include China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Africa, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Thus, it remains a diagnosis of interest to Australian clinicians.1,2
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