OBJECTIVE: To describe the variation in clinical features of individuals presenting to a health facility with chest symptoms according to their ultimate diagnosis. METHODS: Of 16735 patients (52.6% males and 47.4% females) presenting at respiratory centres in seven states in Sudan, 5338 patients were identified with respiratory tract symptoms: 2917 (54.6%) men and 2421 (45.4%) women, with a mean age of 32 years. Those who had cough for more than 3 weeks that was not responsive to a course of antibiotics were screened by microscopy of two or three sputum specimens and chest radiography. RESULTS: A total of 504 (9.44%) were smear-positive, 259 (4.85%) were smear-negative, and 166 (3.11%) had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, of whom 59 (1.11%) had pleural involvement; the remaining 4409 suspects (82.6%) were non-tuberculous. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis patients had a constellation of presenting symptoms, with the principal symptom being cough for more than 3 weeks. The accompanying symptoms with greatest predicted significance were weight loss, tiredness and night sweats.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the variation in clinical features of individuals presenting to a health facility with chest symptoms according to their ultimate diagnosis. METHODS: Of 16735 patients (52.6% males and 47.4% females) presenting at respiratory centres in seven states in Sudan, 5338 patients were identified with respiratory tract symptoms: 2917 (54.6%) men and 2421 (45.4%) women, with a mean age of 32 years. Those who had cough for more than 3 weeks that was not responsive to a course of antibiotics were screened by microscopy of two or three sputum specimens and chest radiography. RESULTS: A total of 504 (9.44%) were smear-positive, 259 (4.85%) were smear-negative, and 166 (3.11%) had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, of whom 59 (1.11%) had pleural involvement; the remaining 4409 suspects (82.6%) were non-tuberculous. CONCLUSION:Tuberculosispatients had a constellation of presenting symptoms, with the principal symptom being cough for more than 3 weeks. The accompanying symptoms with greatest predicted significance were weight loss, tiredness and night sweats.
Authors: Elizabeth L Corbett; Abbas Zezai; Yin Bun Cheung; Tsitsi Bandason; Ethel Dauya; Shungu S Munyati; Anthony E Butterworth; Simba Rusikaniko; Gavin J Churchyard; Stanley Mungofa; Richard J Hayes; Peter R Mason Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 9.408