The major factors increasing the risk of death from tuberculosis are its site and its form and delay in accessibility to diagnosis and treatment.
The most threatening site is the central nervous system and its most lethal form is tuberculous meningitis. The least lethal manifestation is isolated peripheral lymphatic tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most frequent manifestation and its most fatal form will be discussed.
Delay in accessing health care services leads to advanced disease and if it is compounded by a failure to make a timely diagnosis and to commence adequate chemotherapy and to complete it, further increase the risk of death from tuberculosis.
