Setting–Elderly population affected with pulmonary tuberculosis ,hospitalized at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Bareilly ,Uttar Pradesh.

Objective–To evaluate clinical, radiological, microbiological and laboratory parameters  of PTB among elderly(>60 years) patients.

Results– There was a male preponderance with mean age of 66.59 years, almost all coming from rural areas, most with no defined source of income (84.72%),with 37.93% and 15.27 having been ever smokers and ever alcoholics and  36.45% afflicted with diabetes. Cough (77%), fever (65%),breathlessness (64%) ,anorexia (37.93%) and weakness ( 27.58% )were the commonest symptoms. 146 patients (71.92%) were microbiologically confirmed with Auramine–o staining. Radiologically Infiltrates were the commonest lesion and there was a upper and mid zone predominance of X–ray lesions. As much as 18% patients had to be prescribed non standard regimens.

Conclusions– Elderly patients of PTB presented with recognized clinical  and radiological features of disease, but a fair number had to be prescribed non standard regimens.