Optimization of the present-day diagnostics of tuberculosis of the upper respiratory tract and ears

Abstract

This study included a total of 365 patients presenting with tuberculosis of the respiratory organs followed up based at the the Republican TB dispensary. All the patients underwent the comprehensive clinical and laboratory examination with the use of the diagnostic algorithm designed for the otorhinolaryngological examination of the patients suffering from respiratory tuberculosis. The upper respiratory tract tuberculosis was diagnosed in 46 (12.6%) of the examined patients. Laryngeal tuberculosis was documented in 44 (12.1%) patients and middle ear tuberculosis in 2 (0.5%) patients. The most informative method for the diagnostics of tuberculosis of the upper respiratory tract and the ears was a histological study that allowed to reveal more than 70% of the total number of the cases. However, this method of does not reliably confirm or exclude the diagnosis of tuberculous of the upper respiratory tract and ears in all the patients. The accurate diagnostics with the elucidation of the specific character of the pathological process is possible only on the basis of a thorough investigation and comprehensive examination of the suspected patients.