[Primary disability due to tuberculosis]

The social and clinical background of 1,043 tuberculosis patients newly recognized as disabled was studied. A complex study of the interrelation between tuberculosis-induced disability and medical and social factors was undertaken. Ineffective treatment proved to be the leading cause of disability, associating with untimely detection of the disease in 19.4% of the cases, irregular chemotherapy in 51.2%, concurrent chronic alcohol abuse in 31.4% as well as with insufficient use of surgical interventions and disruptions in the treatment continuity at its different stages. An important role in establishing the disability belongs to a low qualification level of the patients, their ++counter-indicated occupational conditions and the associated difficulties in their employment. A possible drop in the disability extent depends upon a number of issues dealing with preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and social activities.