Evaluation of care for elderly pulmonary tuberculosis patients

To examine the clinical problem of elderly pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Clinical findings of pulmonary tuberculosis in elderly patients, who admitted to our hospital from 2001 to 2003, were analyzed in their status, complication, treatment, and prognosis. There were 145 patients, and the early elders from 65 to 74 years old were 67, and the latter elders over 75 years old were 78. Most of the cases were treated by the standard tuberculosis treatment, but in the latter elders, less patients were treated by the short course treatment with PZA than the early elders. The rate of negative conversion of sputum culture was good in both the early and the latter elders who were able to continue treatment. But, the elderly pulmonary tuberculosis patients were severe status and their prognosis was in general not good. The elderly pulmonary tuberculosis patients needed frequent care continuously. Tuberculosis problem should be understood more correctly in the medical and the nursing facilities.