[Prevention in pulmonology]

In the fight against respiratory diseases the well established most effective strategy is their prevention. Mainly the field of screening-caring--so called the second and third levels in prevention--belongs to the competency of the pulmonology specialty, while the key-issue of primary prevention consisting of the reduction of environmental harm and health education is not--or at least not only--the responsibility of the health care system. In the light of national epidemiological data BCG vaccination of the new-born is necessary, however, the system of revaccination of school-age children needs revision. The system of chest screening by rtg nowadays is adapted to the local prevalence of tuberculosis; it is needed to concentrate to high-risk subjects. The effectivity of radiological screening now is recognised internationally and this perspective partly based on our national results. In the care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) the key-issue is the identification and regular follow-up, care of high-risk subjects with rapid decrease in lung function by effective screening. The most important issue in this work is smoking cessation. Of course, if we could prevent smoking addiction, we could significantly reduce the number of several other widespread diseases, not only lung cancer.