Abstract:
The commonly used diagnostic procedures are the tuberculin test, chest X-ray, bacteriological examination and symptoms. The tuberculin test is highly specific for diagnosis of tuberculosis infection and is of little value for confir-mation of tuberculosis disease. Chest X-ray presents the shortcomings of differ-ences in interpretation, low yield of cases and high cost. Direct microscopy is inexpensive and available in every rural health centre in Pakistan. Cough is the most common symptom and sputum examination should be undertaken of all coughing patients reporting themselves to basic health services. Treatment regimens should be judged according to their therapeutic potency, toxicity, cost and ease of administration. Latest studies have investigated the number of doses necessary to obtain permanent sputum conversion using potent drug combi-nations in various ways. A 52-dose regimen is under clinical trial.
Page(s):
176-182
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Rawal Medical Journal, Volume: 7, Issue: 4, Year: 1978