PREGNANCY AND PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Pulmonary tuberculosis is frequently en-countered during pregnancy. According to F. J. Browne1 and J. C. Me Ceure Browne, pulmonary tuberculosis is the most frequent cause of death among women of child bearing age and account for one in six in the age group of 16 to 44 years. Ever since the days of Hippocrates, the prevailing opinion was that pregnancy exerted a favourable influence on the course of Phthisis, the view even being voiced that pregnancy was ‘the best cure for consumption’. Tyler Smith2 in 1858 subscribes to modifica-tion of the same credo when he states ‘the progress of phthisis is often remarkably staye