Follow-up of past tuberculosis, its value and limitations

Recently the policy of life-long follow-up of tuberculous patients has been questioned, particularly for those who have taken adequate chemotherapy. To assess the value of follow-up at a chest clinic, the relapse rate of approximately 3000 male patients was examined and found to be 0.51 percent annually during the last eight years. It was 0.46 percent amongst those treated prior to the introduction of prolonged chemotherapy, 0.55 percent anually amongst those prescribed at least 18 months chemotherapy. No relapses would have been missed if all the patients had been followed for five years after ceasing chemotherapy and only selected groups subsequently. The selected groups included, those not prescribed adequate chemotherapy in the past, those suspected of irregularity of drug intake, alcoholics and those with atypical or resistant organisms. It was concluded that patients adequately treated with chemotherapy need not be followed up after five years.