[Current deaths due to tuberculosis in France. Analysis of 126 deaths recorded in tuberculosis sufferers in 1975 and 1976 in the Bas-Rhin region (author's transl)].

The authors present a study involving 103 cases of death during active tuberculosis and 23 cases of death as a result of complications related to sequelae of tuberculosis recorded in the Bas-Rhin region in 1975 and 1976. Whilst amongst these 103 deaths, the majority concerned elderly individuals, there were nevertheless 20% of deaths due to tuberculosis below the age of 55. The majority of these tuberculosis sufferers had advanced pulmonary lesions where specific therapy had not had time to act. A certain number of deaths could have been avoided, even in the elderly subjects. Of the 23 cases of death due to sequelae, 2/3 died of respiratory failure and 1/5 of secondary aspergillus infection, illustrating the grave prognosis in certain sequelae of tuberculosis.