European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) has been a major cause of suffering and death since time immemorial. Despite microbiological cure of TB infection, many patients develop long term lung impairment and functional disability which leads to their continued suffering. A proportion of treated TB patients suffer from Obstructive Airway Disease (OAD) which is usually attributed to structural lung damage like cavitation, bronchiectasis, lung fibrosis, bronchial stenosis, emphysema and resorptive collapse. However, in our clinical practice, we are observing many patients with history of pulmonary tuberculosis presenting with symptoms of airflow limitation despite no chest radiograph abnormality.