Bansal Avdhesh, Arora Shweta
Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, India.
Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Indian J Tuberc. 2022;69 Suppl 2:S267-S271. doi: 10.1016/j.ijtb.2022.10.018. Epub 2022 Oct 30.
Tuberculosis is very common in young population, but it has emerged in a significant number in geriatric/elderly population (>60 Yrs. of age) as the population is ageing. Most cases of TB in the elderly are linked to the reactivation of lesions that have remained dormant. The awakening of these lesions is attributable to changes in the immune system related to senescence. Mortality rate from tuberculosis remains higher in elderly patients. Diagnosis is difficult as symptoms of active TB are nonspecific and less pronounced in the elderly. MDR TB is known to occur in poorly compliant patients (non-adherence) and this can be a major issue in elderly due to loss of independence and frailty resulting in treatment failure. Multidisciplinary management, involving geriatricians and infectious disease specialists is essential throughout care to optimize a favourable outcome in these vulnerable patients.
结核病在年轻人群中非常常见，但随着人口老龄化，在老年人群（>60岁）中也出现了大量病例。老年人中的大多数结核病病例与潜伏病变的重新激活有关。这些病变的激活归因于与衰老相关的免疫系统变化。老年患者的结核病死亡率仍然较高。由于活动性结核病的症状不具有特异性且在老年人中不太明显，因此诊断困难。耐多药结核病已知发生在依从性差的患者（不坚持治疗）中，由于独立性丧失和身体虚弱导致治疗失败，这在老年人中可能是一个主要问题。在整个护理过程中，由老年病专家和传染病专家参与的多学科管理对于优化这些脆弱患者的良好结局至关重要。
