Abstract
BackgroundWhile pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common presentation, extra pulmonary tuberculosis is also an important clinical problem. However, no adequate information had been made available on the prevalence of smear positive extra pulmonary tuberculosis in Gondar. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and possible risk factors of smear positive extra pulmonary tuberculosis among suspected patients at University of Gondar Hospital.MethodsA cross-sectional study on extra pulmonary tuberculosis suspected patients was conducted at University of Gondar Hospital from January 2012 to April, 2012. Specimens of patients suspected of extra pulmonary tuberculosis were obtained from fine needle aspiration and body fluid samples collected by pathologist. Demographic characteristics and other variables were collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Smears were prepared from each sample and stained by Ziehel Neelson and Wright stain. The result of the study was analyzed with bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.ResultA total of 344 extra pulmonary tuberculosis suspected clients were included in the study and specimens were taken from lymph node aspirates and body fluids. The overall prevalence of smear positive extra pulmonary tuberculosis was 34 (9.9%). Of these cases of extra pulmonary tuberculosis, lymph node tuberculosis constituted the largest proportion (82.4%). Among the 34 extra pulmonary tuberculosis patients, over half of them (52.9%) were positive for human immunodeficiency virus. The largest proportion of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus cases occurred among persons with in the age group of 31–40 years. Previous history of tuberculosis (OR = 4.77, 95% CI 1.86-12.24), contact to a known tuberculosis cases (OR = 6.67 95% CI 2.78-16.90), history of underlying diseases (OR = 2.79 95% CI 1.15-6.78) and income (OR = 12.9 95% CI 2.25-68.02) were significantly associated with extra pulmonary tuberculosis infection.ConclusionThe prevalence of smear positive extra pulmonary tuberculosis infection in Gondar is high. Screening of lymph node and other body fluid specimens for extra pulmonary tuberculosis could help for treatment, control and prevention of the disease.
Highlights
While pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common presentation, extra pulmonary tuberculosis is an important clinical problem
Screening of lymph node and other body fluid specimens for extra pulmonary tuberculosis could help for treatment, control and prevention of the disease
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 report, around 31% of TB cases were in SubSaharan Africa and 14.8% of these being among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHIV) [4]
Summary
While pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common presentation, extra pulmonary tuberculosis is an important clinical problem. No adequate information had been made available on the prevalence of smear positive extra pulmonary tuberculosis in Gondar. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and possible risk factors of smear positive extra pulmonary tuberculosis among suspected patients at University of Gondar Hospital. Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Sub-Saharan Africa is the high prevalent area in TB infection .The WHO 2008 report showed that Ethiopia ranks seventh among the world's 22 countries with high tuberculosis burden [5]. The Federal Ministry of Health (EFMOH) hospital statistics data showed that tuberculosis is the leading cause of morbidity, the third cause of hospital admission and the second cause of death in Ethiopia [6]. According to WHO 2007 report, the prevalence and mortality rate of all forms of TB in Ethiopia was estimated to be 546 and 73 per 100,000 populations respectively but based on WHO 2011 report the estimated prevalence and mortality rate was 394 and 35 per 100,000 respectively [1,7]
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