Screening for Pulmonary Tuberculosis among Patients with Cough Attending Different Block Public Health Centre of North Bank of Kamrup District of Assam, India: Does Location, Gender and Duration of Cough Impact on Screening?

Abstract

India has 2.64 million tuberculosis (TB) cases, and this number is almost 30% of the worldwide TB burden. The aim of the study was to find out whether there is a relationship between the prevalence of TB cases with respect to gender, duration of cough and location. In this study, sputum samples were collected from the patients who reported cough in outdoor patient departments. All sputum samples were examined microscopically. Age, gender, and location-wise data were prepared for study. During the study period, total 37119 presumptive patients were attended outpatient department and 1103 (2.97%) presumptive patients reported cough. Out of 1103 presumptive cases, 5.98% were found to be sputum positive. The occurrence was highest among male patients (73.1%). The age group 16–30 years was found to be the most vulnerable one. Duration of cough was not found to be a significant factor for sputum positive pulmonary TB. However, there was a locality-wise difference in detection (P < 0.05). The findings suggested that cough reported for any duration should be brought under TB screening. Although the data showed that the occurrence of TB was maximum in male patients, female TB patients should also be brought under thorough investigation. In locations showing significant TB cases, targeted interventions should be initiated by government and non-government agencies to detect the root cause.