[Impact of procedures for identifying patients on the pattern of a tuberculous process and the efficiency of treatment].

Abstract

The results of examination and treatment were studied in 3637 new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. A total of 1879 cases were detected at prophylactic examinations (Group 1) and 1758 cases were identified when they resorted to doctors for complaints (Group 2). Circumscribed and benign existing forms of tuberculosis were prevalent in patients at prophylactic examinations. At the same time tuberculosis was accompanied by destruction in a third of cases and by bacterial excretion in half the cases. On applying to the physicians for complaints, the patients were found to have mainly a process with destructions and bacterial excretion and the proportion of acutely progressive forms of tuberculosis was also considerable. In Group 1, treatment showed a much higher efficiency than in Group 2. Deaths from tuberculosis among the new cases were frequently observed in Group 2 and much less frequently in Group 1. Their cause was generally acute tuberculosis.