The notifications utilised by us in this study represented all forms of tuberculosis including childhood primary
tuberculosis. As the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children is difficult and often imprecise,13 some degree of
overnotification may have occurred. However, a review of the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis at the Ravensmead
clinic suggested that the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis in the area was appropriate. Furthermore,
apprOXimately 0.5% of children under the age of 15 years notified for tuberculosis had tuberculous meningitis, which is
in keeping with published ratios