[CONTROLLING TUBERCULOSIS IN FOREIGN-BORN PERSONS IN JAPAN].

Abstract

Controlling tuberculosis (TB) among foreign- born persons is an important issue in Japan. The number of foreign-born patients with TB has been slightly increasing yearly, whereas that of Japan-born patients with TB has been decreasing. Some foreign-born 'persons visited Japan with active TB due to the lack of useful medical checks performed before immigration. The percentage of those with TB among foreign-born persons is high (up to 43%) in the younger generation, especially those in their 20s. Currently, multidrug- resistant TB occurs at a low frequency in Japan; however, there is a danger of persons being easily immigrated into Japan from high-burden countries. Physicians need to be aware that TB is an imported infection. Additionally, a strategy for controlling TB in foreign-born persons (e.g., performing medical checkups before immigration, conducting target medical checkups of high-risk people for TB, administering chemoprophylaxis to foreigners, reconsidering the public medical insurance system for TB treatment, and offering patient support) needs discussed.