Delay in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, London, 1998-2000: analysis of surveillance data: Table 1.

Noted cases of tuberculosis each year have doubled in London since 1987. In 2000, 12.9 cases per 100 000 population in England and Wales were recorded compared with 40.3 cases in London. 1 A delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis increases the risk of poor clinical outcome-including death and transmission of tuberculosis. 2 3 Understanding which factors influence this delay is crucial for controlling tuberculosis.