Introduction: With an increase in geriatric population, also an increase in the incidence of tuberculosis seen in elderly, the burden of tuberculosis is bound to increase in the country

Aim & Objective: To study the clinical and radiological profile of sputum +ve, pulmonary tuberculosis in elderly subjects.

Material & Methods: It was the descriptive longitudinal study conducted on 110 patients during the time span from May 2019 to Feb 2020. All patients having symptoms suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis were subjected to sputum smear for AFB examination, Mantoux test, X ray chest PA view and haematological investigations. Clinico and Radiological profile were studied.

Result: Prevalence of fever and Anorexia (70.9%), Wt loss (80%), Cough (78.2%) were more prominent clinical symptoms whereas haemoptysis (11.8%), Dyspnoea (30.9%), chest pain(20.9%) were relatively less prevalent symptoms in elderly patients.  In our study the radiological features shows bilateral involvement, Moderate disease and upper zone involvement were most frequently found in elderly patients. Only 28.2% study subjects had cavitory lesions.

Conclusions: Prevalence of fever and Anorexia, Wt loss, Cough were more prominent clinical symptoms whereas haemoptysis, Dyspnoea, chest pain were relatively less prevalent symptoms in elderly patients. radiological features shows bilateral involvement, Moderate disease and upper zone involvement were most frequently found in elderly patients.

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Dr Ujjwal Sourav

Asst Professor, Dept of Community Medicine, Saraswathi Institute of medical Sciences, Hapur, UP, India