Not only did the notification rates of sputum smear-positive tuberculosis increase in Cape Town, there was also a shift of the peak morbidity risk to a younger age group.
This is an epidemiologically ominous sign as it indicates that gains made in the past have been lost. It will also make a difference for the youngest generation, if the peak age group is moving from those 45 to 54 years old to those aged 25 to 44 years. This latter is the generation with young children.
