Course of action taken by smear negative chest symptomatics: A report from a rural area in South India

摘要

Objective: To evaluate adherence to diagnostic algorithm of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP)udand course of action taken by smear-negative chest symptomatics (CSs).udMethod: Interviewing smear-negative chest symptomatics.udResults: Of the 423 smear-negative CSs interviewed, 85 (20%) were not prescribed antibiotics and only 133 (39%)udreceived it for more than seven days. Of the 148 patients with persistence of symptoms, 83 (56%) returned for furtherudinvestigations and only 39% were X-rayed. Main reasons for not returning were: ‘not aware’ or ‘consulted another healthudprovider.’udConclusion: Strict adherence to diagnostic algorithm and proper counselling of patients are important for diagnosingudsmear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases.