[Disability in pulmonary tuberculosis in the city of Bucharest]

The authors analyse the invalidity (new retreated cases) for pulmonary tuberculosis, in a period of 9 years (1986-1994), comparing the time before and after the December 1989 Revolution, by making a screening in 2 districts of Bucharest which, by number of population and incidence of tuberculosis, are representative for Bucharest. In the analyzed time, in Romania was noticed a three times increase of tuberculosis invalidity, especially due to pulmonary tuberculosis. In the two districts of Bucharest, in the 1991-1994 period compared to the 1986-1990 period, an increase in tuberculosis invalidity was noticed in men and women, the most affected age group being the one with the greatest work involvement (age 41 to 50). A great percentage of cavitary tuberculosis was registered (89%), with an increase of bilateral cavitary lesions frequency from 28% to 36% in the last 4 years. In the same time, the amount of deaths among the retreated patients increased, with a reduction of number of patients returning to work. All the data show a worsening in the last period (1991-1994) of the tuberculosis endemic and invalidity by this disease, probably due to the social and economical factors.