Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) is an important cause of death in industrialized countries (it is the 4th cause of death in the U.S.). This condition is also prevalent in developing countries, in some its frequency may be higher, and it is an important cause of hospitalizations and consultations because of acute exacerbations. The Anthonisen definition is the most widely and accepted instrument for diagnosing COPD exacerbations, pointing out at the presence of one or more of the following: increased sputum volume, change of color of the sputum, and worsening dyspnea. Patients with COPD may develop one to three acute exacerbation episodes per year. The number of these episodes is an important marker for the severity of COPD, since it determines quality of life and the mortality risk. Three to sixteen per cent of affected patients may require hospitalization (this rate may be highe...

Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) is an important cause of death in industrialized countries (it is the 4th cause of death in the U.S.). This condition is also prevalent in developing countries, in some its frequency may be higher, and it is an important cause of hospitalizations and consultations because of acute exacerbations. The Anthonisen definition is the most widely and accepted instrument for diagnosing COPD exacerbations, pointing out at the presence of one or more of the following: increased sputum volume, change of color of the sputum, and worsening dyspnea. Patients with COPD may develop one to three acute exacerbation episodes per year. The number of these episodes is an important marker for the severity of COPD, since it determines quality of life and the mortality risk. Three to sixteen per cent of affected patients may require hospitalization (this rate may be highe...

La tuberculosis produce alteraciones estructurales y de función pulmonar que persisten pese a la cura bacteriológica (secuelas). La hemoptisis es frecuente y causa gran morbilidad y demanda a los servicios de salud. Objetivo: Con el propósito de conocer sus características epidemiológicas y sus factores de riesgo, se diseñó un estudio descriptivo, analítico, con metodología de cohorte única de casos en el Programa de Control de Tuberculosis (PCT), en el Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia (HNCH) entre enero de 1984 y diciembre de 1996. Material y Método : Se programó visitas domiciliarias evaluando 109. Se realizó una prueba de baciloscopía en los pacientes sintomáticos. Resultados: Hemoptisis estuvo presente en 15 casos (13.76%), de los cuales 7 experimentaron recaída bacteriológica. Todos los casos tuvieron baciloscopía negativa al momento de la encuesta. Se enc...