Hydropneumothorax due to tuberculosis.

Pulmonary tuberculosis, a disease largely limited to third-world populations only 15 years ago, is increasingly becoming a public health problem again in the U.S. We review an emergent presenting feature of tuberculosis--spontaneous pneumothorax--that may now be seen more commonly in emergency departments (EDs). Pneumothorax must be quickly and effectively managed in the ED. In addition, the emergency physician should readily consider tuberculosis as an etiology in any patient with a spontaneous pneumothorax and a significant prodromal illness or a history of exposure to tuberculosis so that contagion precautions may be instituted promptly.