Javaid Khan, Sabita Davidson, Fayyaz Hussain.
Clinical profile & outcome of TB patients seen in a private Teaching Hospital of Pakistan.
Pak J Chest Med Jan ;8(4):25-8.

This study was aimed to see the clinical profile and outcome of the TB patients seen at a private teaching hospital of Pakistan. MATERIALS & METHODS: This study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. Patients with TB managed between January 01, 1997 and December 31, 1997 were included in the study. We used a standard questionnaire to collect information from both inpatient and outpatient charts. Hospital record numbers for inpatients were collected from the Medical Records Department (n=108) and for outpatients from the Consulting Clinic register kept in the chest clinic. (n = 292). The data was gathered retrospectively. Patients receiving anti-TB treatment if lost to follow-up were contacted by phone and letters. The definition of cure we included in our study was: i. For pulmonary TB, treatment completion + radiological and clinical improvement + two negative smear towards the end of treatment. ii. For extra pulmonary TB treatment completion + clinical and/or radiological improvement. RESULTS: Of the 400 patients identified, 56% were males. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 38 years. Patients were categorized on the basis of WHO guidelines into Category 1 (n=334), Category 2 (n=7) and Category 3 (n=51). Fever was the most common presenting symptom. Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis was seen more commonly (n=202) than pulmonary TB (n=173). Of the 173 patient with pulmonary TB, 73% had sputum smears while 65% had sputum cultures performed. Sputum smears were positive in 47% cases while the culture positivity rate was slight lower at 44%. Other non-specific tets on which diagnosis was based were ESR (14%), CSF detailed report (4%), and ascitic fluid detailed report (2%).

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