Side effects of anti-tuberculosis treatment: comparison between combined and dissociated treatment

<b>Introduction:</b> the presentation, of anti- tuberculosis treatment in the form of fixed combined doses simplifies adherence to treatment and prevents the emergence of resistant bacilli. However, the composition and dosages of combined form are less suitable the dissociated form. <b>Aims:</b> to compare the tolerance of two groups of Tunisian tuberculosis patients treatment with the two form (combined and dissociated) and analyze the various side effects encountered. <b>Methods:</b> This is a retrospective study of 176 records of patients hospitalized for common pulmonary tuberculosis and receiving anti-tuberculosis treatment. There are 2 groups: group 1(G1) including 74 patients receiving the combined form and group2 (G2) including 102 patients receiving the dissociated form. <b>Results:</b> The average age of our population was 41± 17 years with male predominance (66.5%). The G1 was characterized by a better therapeutic adherence (97.3% vs 93.13, p=0.2),a higher frequency of side effects (78.3% vs 39.2%,p=0.01)including major effects enquiring treatment discontinuation (21.62% VS&nbsp;4%,p=0.03). The bacilloscopies negativation delay was longer in group 1 (28.8 day vs 20.98 day,p=0.03). The evolution of G1 was marked by more relapse (7% vs 4%&nbsp;; p=0.3). <b>Conclusion:</b> The treatment with combined form is as effective as the dissociated treatment. However, side effects are more frequent because of the difficulty of adjusting therapeutic doses.