Title: Diabetes Mellitus and the threat to Tuberculosis control-A study among new Sputum positive Tuberculosis patients
Authors: Poriyanganattu Thankappan Anandan, Kiran Vishnu Narayan
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i7.77
Abstract
Background: Tuberculosis, a disease of great antiquity has become the most important communicable disease in the world. Diabetes Mellitus has been described as a risk factor for development, failure and relapse of Tuberculosis. Prevalence of Diabetes among follow up smear positives of newly diagnosed Tuberculosis patients were studied.
Methodology/Principal Findings: The study was conducted among 6 Tuberculosis units (TU) in the northern part of Kerala, India from January 2013 to June 2014. Screening of all Tuberculosis patients for Diabetes is being now routinely done under the RNTCP. Among the 1434 new smear positive patients during the time period, we identified 320 Follow up smear positives of which 85 (26.6%) were diabetic..
Conclusions/Significance: This study was done to identify Diabetes Mellitus as a comorbidity among follow up smear positives of newly diagnosed Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients. Early diagnosis with strict monitoring and optimisation of Diabetes among Tuberculosis patients would be mandatory to achieve cure, prevent relapse and reduce the development of Drug resistance.
Keywords: Pulmonary Tuberculosis, smear positive, Diabetes Mellitus.
