Features of the tuberculosis clinic in long-livers

Abstract

Purpose. To study the clinical features of respiratory tuberculosis in long-livers with newly diagnosed tuberculosis in 2013–2023.

Materials and methods. A continuous cohort study of newly diagnosed patients with respiratory tuberculosis in the Yaroslavl and Kostroma regions for the period 2013–2023 was conducted, with an assessment of cases of the disease in patients over 90 years of age.

Results. Three cases of the disease were identified and analyzed in long-livers aged 91–97 years, two men and one woman. Clinical forms of tuberculosis included disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculoma and bronchial tuberculosis with large residual changes. All patients had a blurred clinical picture, long-term intoxication syndrome with background of decompensation of comorbid pathology; senile asthenia masked tuberculosis intoxication. All 3 cases occurred under the guise of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The test with recombinant tuberculosis allergen was negative in 100%. The delay in diagnosing tuberculosis in the presence of massive bacterial excretion was unreasonably long.

Conclusion. The clinical features of tuberculosis in long-livers are low severity of symptoms simulating the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, long-term intoxication syndrome under the guise of senile asthenia, and negative result of an immunological skin test.