| The effect of age on the presentation of patients with tuberculosis. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 7579309 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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OBJECTIVE: To study the differences in presentation of young and elderly patients with tuberculosis (TB). DESIGN: Between January 1991 and December 1992 all patients with TB diagnosed at the Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, were recruited into the study. The following data were collected: body weight, coexisting medical problems, presenting symptoms, radiographic appearance, sputum results for acid-fast bacilli and peripheral blood biochemistry. The patients were divided into young ( < 65 years) and elderly ( > or = 65 years) age groups and differences in presentation of the 2 groups were analysed. RESULTS: There were 78 young and 94 elderly patients with TB. The elderly patients had lower body weight, less haemoptysis but more non-specific complaints (25% vs 1%, P = 0.001). The chest radiographs in the elderly patients were less likely to have upper lobe infiltration (9% vs 37%, P = 0.0002) but more commonly had extensive infiltration of both lungs (17% vs 2%, P = 0.014). The only biochemical abnormality that was more common in the elderly was a low serum albumin level (64% vs 45%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with TB are more likely to present with non-specific complaints and atypical radiographic appearance. A high index of suspicion and prompt investigations in elderly patients may allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment of TB. |
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Authors:
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C H Chan; J Woo; K K Or; R C Chan; W Cheung |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Tubercle and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Volume: 76 ISSN: 0962-8479 ISO Abbreviation: Tuber. Lung Dis. Publication Date: 1995 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1995-12-01 Completed Date: 1995-12-01 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9212467 Medline TA: Tuber Lung Dis Country: SCOTLAND |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 290-4 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hongkong. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adolescent Adult Age Factors Aged Aged, 80 and over Female Hong Kong / epidemiology Humans Incidence Lung / radiography Male Middle Aged Pleural Effusion / microbiology Prospective Studies Tuberculosis / blood, complications, diagnosis, epidemiology* Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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