2012•Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public HealthRequires access
A study of clinical characteristics and trend of different types of tuberculosis in coastal South India
SRama Prakasha, G Suresh, IvorPeter D′sa, SGanesh Kumar, Ramakrishna U. Rao, Manamohan Shetty
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Abstract
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The prevalence and the mortality due to tuberculosis are reducing in India, with an increasing number of suspects being examined and treated under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP). Aim: The primary objective of this study was to describe the basic demographic, clinical characteristics, trends of various types of tuberculosis and program specified treatment protocols of patients registered for TB treatment in this single center attached to medical college hospital under RNTCP. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, record-based study of patients of all types of tuberculosis from January 1995 to December 2010 in all age groups, evaluated at K. S. Hegde Medical College and Hospital, Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Results: A total of 1058 cases were registered and treated under Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) during this period. Males (689, 65.12%) contributed to more number of cases than females (369, 34.88%). Of 1058 cases, 400 (37.81%) were found to be smear positive and among them 297 (74.25%) were males and 103 (25.75%) were females. Among 400 smear positive cases, 322 were new smear positive cases and 78 were Re-treatment Smear Positive cases. The Sputum Positive Ratio was ranging between 7.8% and 23% during the study period. 621 cases (58.7%) were classified as Pulmonary and 437 (41.3%) were classified as Extra Pulmonary. Among 621 Pulmonary cases, 221 (35.59%) were treated according to radiological criteria alone (X-ray positive alone). 778 cases received Cat-I treatment, 135 cases received Cat-II treatment, and 141 cases received Cat-III treatment. CXR positive+ EPTB cases contributed to 62.2% (n = 658) of total tuberculosis cases registered for treatment. Conclusion: High proportion of TB patients with EP-TB and its increasing trend along with higher reporting of sputum smear-negative PTB is a major concern for the health authorities in this area.