[Disability in patients with urogenital tuberculosis]

The timely diagnosis of urogenital tuberculosis and the early initiation of specific therapy are an essential prerequisite to the maximum maintenance of function of an affected organ and to a good prognosis of the disease. Analysis of 205 history cases in patients with new-onset urogenital tuberculosis who were examined and treated at our hospital in 1999-2003 has revealed advanced destructive urogenital tuberculosis in 56.1% of cases. The able-bodied patients were 58.05%. Medical examination determined disability group II in 27.8%. The able-bodied patients who were recognized to be disabled were 57.89%. Since the highest disability rates (34.15%) among the patients with new-onset urogenital tuberculosis were observed in the group of the most able-bodied age (41-50 years), this condition inflicts a great economic loss. The true disability rates are higher than those observed by us since some patients undergo medical examination in their local tuberculosis dispensaries and fail to be statistically registered at our hospital.