Menon, N K (1966) Realistic Chemotherapeutic policies for Tuberculosis in India. The Anticeptic, 63 (8). pp. 595-604.
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Abstract
A series of controlled studies carried out at the Tuberculosis Chemotherapy Centre have revealed that ambulatory chemotherapy for tuberculosis based on a well-organized clinic service for a year, is virtually as effective as sanatorium treatment for the same period, not only in the immediate therapeutic response in terms of overall radiographic improvement, cavity closure and sputum conversion (Tuberculosis Chemotherapy Centre, Madras, 1959) but also in the likelihood of relapse in a subsequent 4-year period of follow-up (Dawson et al, 1966). Further, principally owing to the rapid sputum conversion of patients receiving effective chemotherapy there was no increased risk of contracting the disease to close family contacts of the patients treated at home, the main risk to them being before treatment had begun (Andrews et al, 1960; Kamat et al, 1966). These studies also clearly showed that the traditionally held virtues of sanatorium treatment namely, prolonged bed-rest, good diet, good airy accommodation, nursing and isolation were remarkably unimportant provided adequate chemotherapy was administered. There have been 5 other controlled trials based on random allocation . reported in the world medical literature which compared either sanatorium treatment with clinic treatment (Tyrell, 1956 ; Bell, 1960) or rest with ambulation (Kay, 1957 ; Tuberculosis Society of Scotland, 1960; Wier et al, 1957 ; Wynn-Williams and Shaw, 1960) and not one demonstrated any advantage either of sanatorium treatment over clinic treatment or of rest over ambulation. Because of these findings and because of the gross shortage of hospital beds for tuberculosis, ambulatory chemotherapy for the major or the entire period of treatment has become the accepted practice in the tuberculosis control programmes in India as well as in many other developing countries of the world.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Tuberculosis > Clinical Research |
| Divisions: | Clinical Research |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Rathinasabapati R |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Jul 2013 08:47 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Mar 2016 06:14 |
| URI: | http://eprints.nirt.res.in/id/eprint/77 |
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