SPUTUM INDUCTION BY ORAL SALBUTAMOL

摘要

Selling: A Free Chest Clinic where chest symptomatics from the demarcated 500,000 population of the DOTS-TB Unitand referrals from the OPDs of all the speciality clinics are managed.Aim: A study was undertaken to improve sputum microscopy by sputum induction using oral Salbutamol in chestsymptomatics with no sputum. Case-finding in pulmonary tuberculosis is based on quality sputum microscopy for whichadministration of oral Salbutamol to patients with dry cough and/or scanty sputum was considered necessary.Methodology: Salbutamol was administered orally in doses of lmg/thrice daily for three days initially and the course was repeated for another three days, if after the first induction sputum was either not produced or was inadequate. Results: There were 289 symptomatics( 10%) with either dry cough or scanty sputum among 2764 chest symptomatics All the 289 subjects produced adequate sputum after oral Salbutamol: 177 did so after initial induction and 78 required a second effort to succeed.Conclusion: Oral administration of Salbutamol induces adequate sputum production in patients with dry cough or scantysputum.