Title: Assessment of Clinical Profile, Laboratory Profile and Treatment Outcome of Tubercular Pleural Effusion treated under RNTCP daily fixed dose regimen
Authors: Dr Varshith K, Dr R Muddarangappa, Dr Siddeshwaraswamy P, Dr Vinay K S, Dr Sharath Kumar S
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i1.144
Abstract
Background: India accounts for 1/4th of the global TB burden, EPTB takes many forms, and evidence regarding best practice for many aspects of case finding, diagnosis and treatment is lacking. The second most common form of EPTB, Pleural TB is a common cause of pleural effusion in India.
Aim: To assess the clinical profile, laboratory profile and treatment outcome of newly diagnosed patients with pleural TB treated under RNTCP.
Methods: All newly diagnosed patients of pleural tuberculosis from Nov 1st 2017 to Oct 31st 2018 aged >18yr were included in the study. They were started on RNTCP daily fixed dose regimen after a detailed clinical examination and appropriate laboratory investigations. Patients were assessed during hospital stay, at discharge, monthly once during the course of treatment and after completion of treatment for symptoms, signs, complications due to disease and adverse drug-effect. Outcome was graded by treatment success, failure, death, loss to follow up, changed regimen.
Results: A total of 57 cases were studied, out of which 56% were males and 44% were females, commonest age of presentation was 18-39yr (43.8%). The most common symptom was fever (85.9%), most common sign was stony dull note on percussion, 63.2% of the cases had BMI<18kg/m2, Pleural fluid cytology revealed elevated lymphocytes and proteins in 100% of the patients. Treatment outcome recorded was treatment success in 77.2%, loss to follow-up in 8.8%, not evaluated in 7%, death in 5.3% and regimen changed in 1% of the patients.
Conclusion: Pleural tuberculosis is more commonly affecting the reproductive age group and working individuals of the family and its treatment under RNTCP daily fixed dose regimen has a good clinical outcome.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Pleural Effusion, RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme
