Tuberculosis is a multi-systemic disease and has varied presentations. The disease, producing different clinical manifestation, can involve every organ of the body and a patient may present with complications to any specialist, sometimes with diagnostic dilemma and other times with management problems-like MDR TB. To the national health managers, it poses a problem of control of the disease in community.

Keeping this in mind, eminent scientists in the field of epidemiology, microbiology, clinical management and tuberculosis control from various prestigious research institutes from all over the country have contributed their experiences and critical issues related to tuberculosis.

The chapters in this book are arranged in a scientific sequence in a flow to aid easy understanding. The topics included provide relevant theoretical basis, practical management strategies as well as new advancement in the particulars subject. This multi- authored book has been conceived with compilation of case oriented practical approach chapters, concisely blended with updated information to cater to the needs of the present day demand in medical curricula. The book is also equipped with the latest advances in diagnosis and management of tuberculosis in the form of appendices at the end of book. The appendices include guidelines for various activities under Tuberculosis Control Program of Government of India.

Prof. VK Arora, a dynamic person with a clear vision, is a source of inspiration for young and brooding doctors in the field of tuberculosis and respiratory medicine. He is presently working as Director Principal, Santosh Medical College and Hospitals (Maharaji Educational Trust) Ghaziabad and Vice Chairman of Tuberculosis Association of India. He was earlier Director, LRS Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases and was also holding prestigious position as Additional Director General, Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Government of India. He is a well-known academician and has to his credit a number of national and international awards and citations. In his endeavor to guide and inspire the practitioners of Respiratory medicine and Tuberculosis, he has devoted his valuable time to the preparation of this textbook with a practical approach. I congratulate him on his efforts to bring out this case-based practical approach manual for the benefit of medical fraternity.

I do hope that the strategic guidelines as recommended by the National and International experts, included as appendices, will prove useful for exploring new areas of research and planning for prevention, control and treatment of Tuberculosis. The book deserves a place in the library of every medical college and health care providing institutes. It will also be a precious resource material for doctors in training.

It became apparent that textbooks of medicine would be required in order to impart this knowledge to future generations of physicians. Through time, major textbooks have strayed from the patient as the focus. Works containing extensive information on separate disease entities are now the rule, because the formal medical education has itself witnessed a shift to a problem-solving format.

This particular maiden edition is a compilation of the experiences and learning of a galaxy of faculties who have already made their place in the hall of fame in pulmonary medicine. This particular textbook is different from the traditional contemporaries in a way, that it speaks rather than being read, as each of the topics have ‘A Case Based Approach’. This provides the reader with a patient-directed framework from which sound clinical reasoning is explored. The individual cases and their respective clinical problems have been selected with the intent of improving clinical reasoning and strengthening the reader's knowledge base. It is the cohort that strives to link patient complaints to disease and therapy.

This commonality of background and management philosophy provides the thread that weaves this book together into a comprehensive and coherent practical approach to respiratory medicine. I hope that this book serves to fulfill the much-needed purpose of aiding primary care physicians to take greater responsibility for patients suffering from tuberculosis.

A book of this magnitude would not have been possible but for the magnanimity and kindness of our contributors who took time from their busy schedule to prepare their manuscripts. We would like to thank Shri Jitendar P Vij. Chairman and Managing Director and Mr. Tarun Duneja, General Manager (Publising), M/s Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., for their support, co-operation and technical excellence. Without the unstinting support, constant encouragement and help from my family, my colleague Dr. Rohit Sarin and all my students who kept me alert and informed, this endeavor would not have been possible.

I first like to express my special and sincere thanks to all my colleagues in LRS Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases for their valuable input, guidance and encouragement. I am also grateful to Dr. Rohit Sarin, Dr VP Myneedu, Dr Rupak Singla and Dr MM Puri for their help and inputs. I am also grateful to Dr SP Agarwal, Ex- Director General Health Services, Govt of India for his guidance and help. Thanks are also to Dr LS Chauhan, Deputy Director General (TB), Central TB Division for his support and granting permission for the Annexures.

My special thanks to Dr DD Arora, Dr Atam Prakash and Dr Naresh Kumar Handa for their insight and guidance. They being specially close to my heart over the years as relatives for continuously giving their encouragement and guidance.

My sincere thanks to all the experienced authors for their contribution in writing this book.

The special illustrations in this book are the result of the outstanding artistic talents and computer capabilities of Mr Anil Awasthi and M/s Jaypee Brothers Publication, I am particularly grateful to them.

Especially, I will like to thank all my undergraduates and postgraduates, whose criticism over the years helped me to evolve the concept of this book. I am grateful to Dr KK Chopra, Dr VK Dhingra, Dr S Rajpal, Dr M Hanif, Dr A Mittal and Dr Nishi for their support and cooperation in preparation of this book. I am also thankful to students of Santosh Medical College for their help.

We are indebted thanks to Prof. Philip Hopewell, SAARC TB Centre, Nepal, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Knut Lonnroth, World Health Organization, Clare Pierard, Managing Editor, International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease for their magnanimity and kindness to permit us to reproduce as Appendices.

Finally, I want to thank my family members for their understanding, patience and tolerance during the preparation of this book.