[Diagnostic errors in detecting open forms of pulmonary tuberculosis]

A study of 206 patients with open forms of pulmonary tuberculosis indicates that in 25.2% of them tuberculosis was initially diagnosed as pneumonia, bronchitis or tumour of the lungs. The main causes of diagnostic errors were inadequate knowledge of general practitioner of tuberculosis problems, neglect in examination of the sputum for MBT, incomplete scope and incorrect interpretation of roentgenological data.