Study of respiratory symptoms among sputum positive

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The commonest cause is the inflammatory exudate, either monocytic
or polymorphonuclear. Epithelial tubercles may also be present (Seal,
1971). The exudate is probably due to the discharge ofcaseous material
into the bronchial lumen with aspiration into a segment or lobe and a
resultant exudative hypersensitivity reaction to the contained
tuberculoprotein. Actual caseous pneumonia appears to be very unusual
although small areas of caseation may occur (Crofton, 1954 and Leitch,
2000).
8) Pleural effusion
Pleural effusion may sometimes accompany pnmary pulmonary
tuberculosis in children under the age of puberty (Aderele 1980). Both
pleural surfaces are then studded with tubercles and intensely inflamed.
There is exudation of fluid and the pericardium may be similarly affected
pleural and pericardial effusions tend to occur at or shortly after the time of
Iry infection and are regarded as complications ofthe lry lesion (McNicol
et al., 1995).
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