Weight gain in African patients with pulmonary tuberculosis receiving short course chemotherapy

ABSTRACT

The weight of 100 adult African patients with a first time diagnosis of sputum-positive pulmonary tuberculosis; who received short course chemotherapy under hospital supervision; was measure at one week intervals to determine the extent of change and whether this was related to clinical features. Significant weight gain occurred at 4 weeks and again at 8 weeks and was unrelated to symptoms; duration of illness or smoking habits. In this group of patients weight gain in the first two months is a simple and useful parameter of response to chemotherapy