PRESENT POSITION OF URINARY TUBERCULOSIS ¹

SUMMARY The numbers of patients with urinary tuberculosis are greatly reduced, but new cases are still to be expected. A history of previous tuberculosis is not so likely now. The age incidence has changed and there are now relatively more patients over the age of 50 years. Because of the change in age, streptomycin should be used with caution since toxic manifestations are more likely in the older patients. The best drug in our results is still isoniazid, used in a combination of drugs, but good results are being obtained with ethambutol and Rifampicin. The duration of chemotherapy should be 18 to 24 months. Operation is still advisable in patients with advanced renal disease and a persistent positive urine after 3 months' therapy. Bladder reconstruction operations are indicated in some. The death rate due to tuberculosis is very small.