[Tuberculous pleurisy in elderly and senile persons: its clinical picture and diagnosis].

The timeliness of detection and clinical manifestations were analyzed in 132 patients aged 60 to 92 years who had tuberculous exudative pleurisy (TEP). In this age group, TEP was encountered twice more frequently seen than in young patients, concurrent with active pulmonary tuberculosis, and, in 33% of cases, attended by bacterial isolation. The obliterated picture, a mild response to the Mantoux test, X-ray features, and significant comordibity make the diagnosis difficult. To enhance the efficiency of a diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, it is necessary to view each patient with pleural effusion as a potential patient with tuberculous pleurisy and refer him/her for a phthisiologist to make an after-examination.