STUDY OF GERIATRIC TUBERCULOSIS AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

N.N Ramraje; R.R.Hegde; JM Phadtare; P.L.Meshram; VV Pujari; SA Agale

Volume : VI, Issue : XII, December - 2017

STUDY OF GERIATRIC TUBERCULOSIS AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

N. N Ramraje, R. R. Hegde, Jm Phadtare, P. L. Meshram, Vv Pujari, Sa Agale

Abstract :

Tuberculosis is emerging as a significant health problem in the geriatric population. The aim of the present study was to study tuberculosis among the elderly in a tertiary care teaching hospital for a period of 3 years. Amongst 400 geriatric patients diagnosed with Tuberculosis , 336 (84%) were male and 64(16%) were females. The most common presenting complaints were cough, fever and loss of apetite and weight.60 % of the cases had pulmonary tuberculosis.140 (35%) had Diabetes Mellitus as co morbid condition. We need to have a high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of tuberculosis when elderly patients present with non-specific and vague symptoms, non-resolving pulmonary infiltrates on chest x-ray and laboratory abnormalities which remain unexplained. Special attention needs to be given to the monitoring for compliance with treatment, side effects of drugs and drug interactions.