PRESENT-DAY CONCEPT OF REHABILITATION IN TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract
One hundred and fifty-five consecutively admitted tuberculous patients who had achieved sputum "conversion" and cavity closure were placed on an intensive rehabilitation program geared to returning them to their former occupations. Follow-up reports have been obtained on 118 patients. Of these, 88 were fully employed in occupations varying from heavy physical labor to white collar jobs. A total of 22 were not working; these were for the most part in the older age groups, and consisted of 10 who had reached retirement age prior to hospitalization, while 12 with a median age of 60 usually had some other associated disability, such as pulmonary emphysema. Of the 4 deaths, none was related to tuberculosis. Three relapses occurred in severe alcoholics, none of whom ever attempted to return to work.