Despite the availability of anti-tuberculosis medications, tuberculosis case fatality may remain elevated if adequate completion of chemotherapy cannot be assured, as this study form India testifies.
The risk of death from tuberculosis in young patients taking the prescribed treatment regimen has been reduced to about 5%. On the other extreme, elderly patients not taking the medications as prescribed have a case fatality that approximates that of untreated tuberculosis. Thus, ensuring adherence to treatment will offer patients a reduced risk of death from tuberculosis.
