ABSTRACT
Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection that mainly involves the lungs, but may spread to other organs. Most people who develop symptoms of a tuberculosis infection first became infected in the past. However, in some cases, the disease may become active within weeks after the primary infection. Objective: To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Subjects and method: A retrospective study included 196 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis hospitalized in Department of Respiratory of Bach Mai Hospital in 2 years (2002 - 2003). Patients\ufffd?information of medical records was collected. Results and conclusions: 60.7% of patients were male and 39.3% were female. Tuberculous pleurisy was 59%, parenchymal lung tuberculosis 36%, and the others 5%. Clinical signs and symptoms included chest pain 67.9%, dyspnea 61.2%, cough 72.9% (nonproductive cough: 42.3%; productive cough: 30.6%), fever 61.2%. Dull to flat percussion, decreased to absent breath sound and fremitus 65.3% (89% tuberculous pleurisy). 27.6% of patients had positive AFB evident (smear, bronchial lavage fluid). The first line drugs were usually used in treatment of tuberculosis.