[Effectiveness of chemotherapy of patients with newly detected destructive pulmonary tuberculosis living in rural areas].

The results of treating 333 new cases of destructive tuberculosis of the lungs were investigated in relation to the time of the disease detection and the chemotherapy regimens applied. When the disease was detected relatively early (not later than a month before registration of the pulmonary signs) the frequency of abacillation and cicatrization of the destructive cavities increased, the period of the main chemotherapy course decreased (including in- and outpatient stages) and the treatment expenditures appeared to be lower. The best results were observed with early use of the chemotherapy regimens including rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and/or streptomycin at the first stage of the treatment especially when the disease was detected not later than a month before registration of the pulmonary signs.