Short Course Chemotherapy In Tuberculosis

Abstract

Among the greatest medical achievements of the 20^th century has been the discovery of anti-tuberculosis drugs which are capable of curing every patient suffering from tuberculosis. The use of mass chemotherapy has resulted in a spectacular decline of the disease in technically advanced countries. Unfortunately mass chemotherapy has proved a failure in most developing countries and no country has managed to eradicate tuberculosis. The main reason for failure is that the very long duration of drug treatment, required to cure tuberculosis, has proved unacceptable to patients. The discovery of rifampicin has opened up a new era, making possible a cure of tuberculosis in months rather than years. The purpose of this article is to describe the development and potential of short course chemotherapy.