[Diagnostic features of newly diagnosed tuberculosis on different accounts of consulting with a physician]

The specific features of diagnosis were studied in 209 patients with tuberculosis at 9 phthisiological stations of the Yaroslavl Region in 1998-2002. In 96.2% of the patients, tuberculosis was found to have been newly diagnosed in general polyclinics and polyclinics. Only in 3.8% of the patients, the diagnosis of tuberculosis was made at prophylactic fluorography performed on the patients' initiative. A retrospective assessment of outpatient records indicated a significant delay in establishing tuberculosis, by using adequate diagnostic criteria if a physician had professional skills. The authors arrive at the conclusion that dispensary should assume the functions of phthisiopulmonological centers that will secure the continuity of early diagnosis of tuberculosis and its early treatment.