We evaluated the cause of death in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who diedwithin one year after diagnosing as tuberculosis. Of 325 bacillary patients during thepast seven years, 43 (13.2%) died within one year.
Twenty-three patients (53.5%) died directly of tuberculosis. In this group, 13 patientsdied in emaciation state. Most of them were aged and under a poor nutritional condition. Some patients died in spite of improvement of tuberculosis. The fact indicates the needto detect tuberculosis as early as possible in elderly persons, and treatment should be initiatedimmediately. Eight patients died of respiratory failure and their chest X-ray filmshowed wide-spread tuberculosis. Seven of the patients died in spite of initiating treatmentwithin one month after the onset of symptoms. This fact suggests the importanceof regular check up by chest X-ray. to detect tuberculosis early. Two patients diedof massive hemoptysis. They had an episode of bloody sputum and the laboratory examinationshowed anemia.
On the other hand, 20 patients died due to coexisting diseases unrelated to tuberculosis.
Ten patients died of malignant diseases and most of them were lung cancer. Two patientsdied of hepatic failure possibly caused by the adverse reaction of TB chemotherapy. Theinterval between the onset of the treatment and death was less than a month, and thefact suggests the need to observe carefully for adverse reactions especially in the earlystage of treatment.
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