Surveillance of tuberculosis in pregnancy

Summary

Tuberculosis is a globally important cause of morbidity and mortality with an increasing incidence in women of reproductive ages. This descriptive study using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System demonstrated key differences in the presentation of tuberculosis during pregnancy compared with the non-pregnant population. The disease is limited to ethnic minority women, most commonly recent immigrants. Presentation may be atypical, with extra-pulmonary disease as common as pulmonary. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for non-specific presentation of the disease in pregnancy and consider the diagnosis in women, especially recently arrived immigrants, presenting with non-specific symptoms.

Publications

Journal Articles

• Knight M, Kurinczuk JJ, Nelson-Piercy C, Spark P, Brocklehurst P. Tuberculosis in pregnancy in the UK. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 2009;116(4):584-8.