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The incidence of tuberculosis decreases. However, clinical cases frequently raise questions, mainly in the context of contact tracing or when antimicrobial resistance is suspected. Empiric standard treatment consists of rifampin, isoniazid, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. This initial regimen aims to reduce the number of pathogenic germs while the consolidation therapy should eradicate the remaining pathogens. Treatment duration and adherence are crucial for cure. For the treatment of latent tuberculosis the traditional 6 to 9 months isoniazid regimen is still the treatment of choice. In complex cases such as tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients or if resistant tuberculosis is suspected, patients should be referred to a specialized center.

Patients not having a general practitioner will more likely use the emergency departments (ED) of hospitals for primary care. Crowding of the ED due to patients with minor health problems is a growing burden. The present work was aimed to analyze data of ED consultations at a Swiss regional hospital. Leading diagnoses of ED consultations covered a broad spectrum of internal medicine. The majority of patients seen in the ED are «walk-in» patients with minor problems that after initial evaluation and treatment in the ED could be managed as outpatients. Pediatric patients made a considerable part of the workload. Elderly patients (>65 years) were hospitalized more often.

Patients with myelodysplasia are susceptible to infections due to their compromised immunity. If presenting with a cervical lymphadenopathy patients must, in addition to other causes, be evaluated for tuberculosis, especially if they show a concurrent erythema nodosum.