Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Salah-Al-Deen province in 2007

Abstract

Three hundreds thirty patients studied in Salah-Al-been consultant clinic for respiratory disease from 1st January to 1st December-2007. Pulmonary tuberculosis found in 114 of them, and falls in to two groups; 57.9% of them were negative sputum smear, and 42.1% of them had positive sputum smear. Regarding the mycobacterium load in the sputum smear, most of pulmonary tuberculosis cases had as following: 17 (14.9%) had -1-+, 20 (17.5%) had +++ of M. tuberculosis rodsand two patients (4.2%) had very little rods. Positive pulmonary tuberculosis was more common amongpatients aged <18 years old which found in seven (46.7%) and male constitute 48.5% of them and the odd ratio for male sex was 1.3. Regarding residence, positive pulmonary tuberculosis, 27 (38%) of patients were from rural areas in comparison to 21 (48.8%) of urban area. The odd ratio for urban area was 1.3 and for rural 0.8. Tuberculosis case detection rate was lower than expected, and the working group is mostly affected. Improvement in management of tuberculosis and rehabilitation programs needed.