[A reevaluation of the criteria for initiating medical treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients].
In Japan some registered tuberculosis (TB) patients have had medical treatment initiated for the purpose of preventing development of inactive TB into active stages, or due to differential diagnosis. A reevaluation of the necessity of commencing medical treatment was performed on 91 TB patients to elucidate the special characteristics of TB patients who do not necessarily need medical treatment. The results are as follows: 1) Among the 91 patients, 67 patients were judged to be 'confirmed cases', while 24 patients were judged to be 'suspect cases', with either inactive TB or possibly without TB. 2) The rates of 'suspect cases' were higher in the tubercle bacillus negative groups as well as the X-ray mild cases compared to the tubercle bacillus positive cases and X-ray severe cases. 3) The patient's self-diagnosed symptoms proved to be useful in evaluating the TB patient's severity. It is thought that this information should be used to judge the necessity of commencing medical treatment in TB patients.