A "treatment score" for primary and pulmonary tuberculosis.

A "treatment score" for primary and pulmonary tuberculosis is presented. In view of the difficulty in diagnosing sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis, and the numerous adverse consequences of over and under diagnosing this disease, a standardised method of deciding which patients need anti-tuberculosis therapy is advantageous. By means of "weighting" various factors in the clinical presentation, adding these and setting a cutoff point at which to treat for tuberculosis, such a standardisation is achieved. The "treatment score" relies on microscopy and radiography, with symptoms, signs and laboratory tests as important adjuncts. Primary and pulmonary tuberculosis present differently in children under five years old and, the "weighting" of the various factors in the clinical presentation differs from that of adults, with less risk of under-diagnosis. The treatment score is designed to be useful in government, mission and other hospitals in developing countries.