Allergic and Toxic Reactions of Prolonged Chemotherapy for Pulmonary Tuberculosis

¹ The University of Texas Post Graduate School of Medicine and the San Antonio City Health Department, Chest Clinic.

1. One hundred cases of allergic and toxic reactions of multiple drug therapy were studied over a prolonged period of time.

2. The prolonged use of drugs demonstrated that most of the reactions occurred while patients were using streptomycin and isoniazid.

3. The most frequently occurring reactions were in the first 24 months of treatment, and otic and allergic types of reactions were the most common.

4. Pregnancy is not a valid reason for interrupting treatment even though allergic and toxic reactions do occur. Prophylactic treatment of anemia is necessary while using multiple drugs over prolonged periods.

5. Prevention of the adverse effects of streptomycin, izoniazid and paraminosalicylic acid by the use of vitamins, pyridoxine, antihistamines, adrenergic and steroid drugs, should be instituted as soon as the reactions are diagnosed.

6. The most successful prophylactic measure is still the temporary or permanent discontinuation of the offending drugs and the substitution of a better drug, without interrupting therapy.