[Evolution of tuberculosis in the District of Dolj]. / [Evolutia tuberculozei în judetul Dolj.]

The 742,500 inhabitants of Dolj District face a high risk of TB since over 10 years. In 1992 the TB incidence was 93.7@100,000 and 155.7@100,000 in 2000 (66% increase). A number of 1156 TB patients were registered in year 2000, 84% new cases and 16% relapses. 82% of the patients had lung lesions, 11.9% had pleurisy and 6.1% had various extra-thoracic lesions. Bacteriologic confirmation was 67.7%. The periodic prevalence of smear positive patients, with a high level of 139@100,000 in 1999, determined a high risk for disease among children, also, the TB incidence in this category being 46.8@100,000. The evaluation of treatment results in a cohort of smear positive patients registered in 1999 showed a success rate of only 75.5%. The decrease of the TB endemy level in Dolj district depends on improvement of life status in the district, complete use of DOTS and a good financement of all parts of the National TB Control Program in 2001-2005.

[A survey of the perception of COPD by physicians (I)]. / Sondaj asupra perceptiei BPOC de catre medici (I).

Observing the great importance of COPD nowadays, the authors aimed to check the doctors' opinions concerning this matter. 300 questionnaires including 53 questions were mailed to doctors in the whole country. 103 filled-in questionnaires (34.34%) were recovered from 36 pulmonologists (PNF), 24 internal medicine specialists (Int) and 43 general practitioners (Gen). One could sometimes note important differences between the answers depending upon the specialty. Thus, the quality of the COPD assistance is considered unsatisfactory by many PNF. All doctors consider COPD as a concerning problem. The diagnosis is always established using clinical criteria (cough, dyspnea). There are differences between the doctors in using the X-ray and the lung function tests as diagnosis criteria, due to accessibility to these tests, but also to the interpretation. COPD may often be mixed up with other obstructive diseases, especially asthma, and many doctors include also the obstructive post-TB syndromes in COPD. All the doctors, no matter the specialty, consider themselves capable of diagnosis COPD. Despite the scarce participation to the questionnaire (due to lack of courage or of interest), the questionnaire can make up an image of the concern of the Romanian doctors for the COPD medical assistance, making also the consequences of the limited access to the newest informations.

[A survey of recommended measures in COPD (II)]. / Sondaj asupra masurilor preconizate în BPOC (II).

The authors aimed to test the doctors' opinion-general practitioners (Gen), internal medicine specialists (Int) and pulmonologists (PNF) about the therapeutic approach in COPD. 300 questionnaires including 53 questions were mailed; 103 filled-in questionnaires were recovered (33.34%). Most of the doctors consider necessary the initial diagnosis in hospital. The Gen send the patients mostly to the Int and less to the PNF. Most doctors accept that the treatment should be started in pulmonology clinics. All the doctors prescribe teophillins; the beta-agonists are prescribed twice as much by the PNF than Int, and very little by Gen. The oral corticosteroids are used by half of the doctors; the inhaled corticoids are prescribed seldom and only by PNF. The i.v. corticoids are used by half of Int. All the doctors recommend smoking cessation. Only the PNF drag the attention upon the bacterial infections. The kinesitherapy is seldom recommended, even by PNF.