[Treatment of pleuropulmonary tuberculosis in 1985]

The treatment of pulmonary TB due to bacilli sensitive to antituberculous treatment should lead to 100 p. 100 therapeutic success. However, this result implies a good bacteriological knowledge of the Koch bacillus, of antituberculous drugs, of therapeutic strategy, of the duration of treatment and, finally, of the reasons for failure. The association of isoniazide (5 mg/kg/day), rifampicin (10 mg/kg/day) and ethambutol (20 mg/kg/day for the first two months) sterilizes tuberculous lesions in 9 months. The introduction of a fourth antituberculous drug, pyrazinamide (35 mg/kg/day for the first two months) enables the duration of treatment to be reduced to 6 months without any loss of efficiency. Tuberculous relapses, sometimes due to polyresistant bacilli, pose difficult problems requiring detailed bacteriological studies of antibiotic sensitivity. Specific measures have to be taken (adaptation of dosage, contra-indications of certain drugs) with respect to the individual patient (elderly patients, pregnant or lactating women). Surgery has a role to play, especially in the treatment of sequellae. Admission to a sanatorium is reserved for infectious cases at the beginning of treatment and for patients living in poor conditions. The cover of social security is essential for successful treatment. Tuberculous is a compulsory notifiable disease.