FREQUENCY OF SPUTUM POSITIVE AFB CASES AMONG PATIENTS OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS OF NORTHERN PAKISTAN

Authors

  • Mohammad Ishaq Khattak
  • Ihsan ullah
  • Amir Muhammad
  • Nisar Khan
  • Munawar Zaman

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed to find out the frequency of sputum positive Acid Fast Bacilli(AFB) cases among pulmonary tuberculosis patients and to determine those patients who are thepotential source of transmitting infection. Methods: This study was conducted in four medical unitsof Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar and Chest Unit, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad incollaboration with the pathology unit of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, and Kohat Institute ofMedical Sciences, Kohat. Three specimens of sputum were collected for three consecutive days inthe morning and were transported immediately to the laboratory along with full details of thepatients. Results: Out of two hundred total patients studied, 104 patients (52%) were sputum AFBpositive. Among the 104 patients 60 patients (57.4%) were females. Sixty-four (61.52%) individualswere between 20–50 years. Majority of the patients were from poor, deprived and lower social class.Fifty-two (50%) patients had monthly income of less than Rs. 4,000; only 8 patients (7.67%) hadmonthly income of more than Rs. 12,000). Forty-eight patients <46.12% were house wives, 10patients (9.61%) were unemployed. Most of the patients were under weight for their age and height.24 patients (23.06%) were below 42 kg. The maximum (53.84%) number of patients was in weightrange of 43–50 kg. Conclusion: Sputum AFB positive pulmonary tuberculosis is more in individualsof low socioeconomic group and in females. The patients put their children and family members atrisk of tuberculosis infection. For the control of this disease early diagnosis of active disease andtheir treatment under supervision is important.Keyword: Sputum, AFB-Positive, Pulmonary tuberculosis, Low socioeconomic group

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Published

2010-06-01

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