Abstract: Objective To investigate the incidence of pulmonary Tuberculosis in a prison. Methods (4 228) prisoners in a prison in Shenzhen was investigated.The micro chest X-ray was used to screen the patients,and for those with shadow suggesting TB in lung,X-ray and 3-time sputum smear were conducted. Result 92 cases had abnormal shadow in the lung.By consultation,34 cases(37.0%) were diagnosed as steady focus and 50 cases(54.3%) as active focus(6 cases were diagnosed as new smear positive pulmonary Tuberculosis),8 cases were diagnosed as infectious TB.44 cases were sputum smear negative TB.,among whom 11 cases(25%)had history of pulmonary Tuberculosis before being enrolled into the prison;all the 6 new smear positive cases had symptoms and 17(38.6%) out of the 44 smear negative cases had symptom.Their active focus,clinical symptom and final diagnosis mostly happened in the two periods: from two to six month and six to twelve month after prisoners enrolled into prison. Conclusion Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among prisoners was markedly higher than the community,their symptom were atypical and diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was often delayed.

Key words: Pulmonary tuberculosis, Prison, Survey