[Diagnostic features of recurrent respiratory tuberculosis]

In 1998-2001, prophylactic examinations revealed recurrences of respiratory tuberculosis in 70.1-69.8% of cases; among the persons having pronounced posttuberculosis changes, the recurrences being, on the contrary, detected in 61-70% of cases on their visits to health care facilities for the symptoms of inflammatory bronchopulmonary disease. The recurrences of respiratory tuberculosis in the past years (1999-2001) are characterized by their predominant development in intact lung tissue and in the presence of minor residual tuberculosis-induced changes (64.8%) while those in the previous years (1991-1993) occurred in 64.9% in the presence of pronounced residual changes. In 14.6% of patients, recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis are identified by detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the sputum in the absence of clinical, X-ray, and laboratory data on the activity of residual tuberculosis-induced changes. Thus, 18.7% and 19.6% of focal and infiltrative tuberculosis, respectively, and 66.7% of tuberculomas are detected. Common severe forms (disseminated, fibrocavernous, caseous pneumonia) are found in 66.7-100% of cases on referral to therapeutic institutions.