Influence of meteorologyparameters on pulmonary Tuberculosis morbidity in two Eco-climatic zones in Nigeria

Abstract

Weinvestigated the influence of weather parameters on the morbidity pattern of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the rain-forest (Ile-Ife)and guinea savanna (Ilorin) zonesof Nigeria. Retrospective clinic data on PTB (1996- 2006) were collected from major hospitals in the zones while weather data (1996-2006) were collected from the Nigerian Meteorological agency. The highest reported cases of PTB were found in age-group 20-29 at Ile-Ife (19%) and Ilorin (27%).Gender distribution showed more casesamong malesinthetwo zones. More PTB cases were reported during wet season I and II at Ile-Ife while at Ilorin, wet season I and short dry season had higher concentration of cases. Periods of high PTB reporting at Ile-Ife associated with low ambient temperature, high relative humidity and wind speed. At Ilorin, periods of high PTB cases were characterised by low temperature and wind speed. Early onset of rains in the forest zone was linked with high PTB reporting during intense rainy period, characterised by high wind speed while high cases reporting was in the later phase of rains with low wind speed in the savanna zone. Intervention strategies for PTB control should therefore be sensitive to seasonal characteristics of locations for optimum outcomes.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, eco-health, respiratory diseases, weather parameters, associative analysis