The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · May 2012
Tuberculosis seasonality in the Netherlands differs between natives and non-natives: a role for vitamin D deficiency?
The seasonality of tuberculosis (TB) incidence suggests that the risk of infection or development of disease has a seasonal component. ⋯ A seasonal peak in TB notifications (March-June) is apparent in non-natives, but is absent in natives. This peak is driven by the seasonality of EPTB notifications, which are highest in June-July. The contribution of winter crowding is discussed. Vitamin D deficiency, enhancing disease development at the end of winter-early spring, seems the most likely factor explaining the yearly peak in EPTB.