title: Tuberculosis: a strategy to detect and treat new and reactivated infections.
abstract: Adults age 65 and older are among those most likely to develop active tuberculosis (TB). Classic symptoms include fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, and a persistent low-grade fever. Older patients may have atypical symptoms, and studies show they have significantly more weight loss and more crackles in the lung fields than younger patients. Skin testing is a useful screening tool and is indicated in individuals suspected of active TB, those in whom prophylaxis would be considered, and nursing home residents. Definitive diagnosis is based on a positive sputum culture. Combination therapy with first-line antituberculous drugs is usually effective and well-tolerated in older patients. Preventive therapy is indicated in tuberculin reactors who have been recently infected.
authors.affiliation: St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hocking
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015984:Causality; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D018579:Patient Selection; D012008:Recurrence; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents