Characteristics of the regimens for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis registered at public health centers in Seoul

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Through the control of tuberculosis at 22 public health centers under the National Tuberculosis Control Program, this study is purposed to examine the situation of the tuberculous patients and the characteristics of the therapeutic regimens. METHODS: The data was obtained from 8091 medical records of pulmonary tuberculous patients who were registered for treatment at public health center in Seoul during the year of 1993. It was comparatively analysed by the general characteristics(gender, age, chest X-ray findings, sputum results, treatment results, side effects, combined diseases and accompanied extra-pulmonary tuberculosis) according to various regimens of the tuberculosis. RESULTS: The male patients were 5144, the female were 2947. 34.1% of patients were between 21 and 30years of age. Short course regimen was 97.1% and long course regimen was 2.9%. According to chest X-ray findings minimal 53.5%, moderately advanced 41.2%, far advanced 5.3%. Sputum AFB negative was 52.2% and positive was 47.8%. Therapeutic efficiency was high in short course regimen. Among the side effects, dermatologic problems was high and at the regimen of EHRZ side effects were developed highly. Combined diseases were liver diseases(5.2%), DM(4.2%). Accompanied extrapulmonary tuberculosis were pleurisy(5.4% ), superficial lymphadenitis(0.4% ). CONCLUSIONS: There was great effects in the treatment of tuberculosis with short course regimen in the National Tuberculosis Control Program. But only 38% among the expected patients were treated in this country. So the greater efforts were needed to find and treat more patients effectively.