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116
The possibility of oral lesions in patients suffering from Tuberculosis
producing secondary infections may be eliminated by proper
care of the teeth. The most serious complications of Pulmonary
Tuberculosis, such as pyrexia and cavity formation, may be ascribed
to the invasion of the lesions by ordinary pyogenic bacteria, viz.,
pneumococci, streptococci and staphlococci, and that all these microorganisms
thrive in a neglected mouth, and their aspiration would
be certain. The value of an efficient masticatory apparatus is self
evident in a class of patient whose recovery is so influenced by
nutritional condition, and finally, oral infection, by imposing an
added drain on the resources of a patient who needs all his strength
to combat the tubercular infection may serve as the proverbial " last
straw."
It is desirable that all tuberculous patients should have some
systematic dental treatment and that such treatment should be in
conjunction with the local Tuberculosis Dispensary. Beyond dispute,
it is eminently desirable that patients should be treated in a
special clinic which can be thoroughly fumigated afterwards. It is
impossible for the private practitioner to guard against infection of
his surgery when the patient probably does not tell him that he is
suffering from Tuberculosis, and even if the dental surgeon does
know, it is difficult for him to arrange for adequate precautionary
measures against possible infection of other patients.
Patients referred from the Tuberculosis Dispensary are treated
at Liodge Road treatment centre on Wednesday afternoons from
3.30 to 5 p.m., and after the treatments have been carried out the
clinics are thoroughly disinfected. The majority of patients treated
are referred by the Tuberculosis Officer, but some are patients discharged
from Cheam before treatment is completed.