SHORT-COURSE CHEMOTHERAPY FOR SILICOTUBERCULOSIS

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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 66 (9), 327-330
Abstract
The use of short-course chemotherapy in silicotuberculosis in the goldmining industry in South Africa is described in a comparative trial of 94 cases of silicotuberculosis and 2 matched-pair control groups with pulmonary tuberculosis only. The theoretical and practical considerations of short-course chemotherapy are discussed. It is concluded that this is an effective means of treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with silicosis as well as in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis only, irrespective of previous exposure to silica dust. There are no valid reasons why the basic tenets of short-course chemotherapy for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis should not apply in silicotuberculosis.