Experiences from a one-year supervision of pulmonary tuberculosis patient and Their associates.

ABSTRACT

Monthly scheduled follow-ups of 28 sputum-smear-culture-positive tuberculosis patients and 110 members of their families revealed 14 suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and several interesting findings: (1) the incidence of tuberculosis was mostly among poor families with unsuitable shelter; (2) assessing family members and close associates of patients proved to be a fruitful approach for case-finding; (3) several BCG-vaccinated persons were found to have developed tuberculosis; (4) despite enthusiastic supervision of patients undergoing treatment, the defaulter rate was high (19.5%); and (5) all the antituberculotic regimens prescribed in this paper proved effective, as indicated by negative sputum examination from the fourth month of therapy onwards and a relapse rate of only 3.0 percent. Suggestions are made for improving the control of tuberculosis among the general public.