Abstract :
Data from five tuberculosis treatment units was collected from Malda and
Bardhman districts in West Bengal, India for treatment success rate and dropout
rates. The objective was to study, compare and contrast the socioepidemiological and clinical features of TB between adults and adolescents
including treatment success and dropout rates under the revised national
tuberculosis control program of government of India. The study cohort was of
the year 2011; both primary and secondary data was collected using patient TB
cards, TB registers and interviews with patient and/ or patient guardians. Of a
total of 1,327 patients registered during this period in the five treatment units,
data from 729 registered patients was randomly selected for the study. The
cohort data was studied for adolescents aged between 10-19 years and adults
aged between 20-45 years. Our results show that adolescents had higher
education than adults, had similar socio- economic status, and proportionately
had more extra pulmonary tuberculosis than adults. Unlike adult women,
females comprise a much higher proportion of TB patients in the adolescent
cohort, possibly showing that the protective effect that adult women have against
tuberculosis is not as strong among adolescent girls. Finally, treatment success
rates are much higher in adolescents than adults. In conclusion, the sociodemographics, clinical picture and treatment outcomes for TB among
adolescents are different than that of adults.
Keyword :
Tuberculosis, adolescents, adults, males, females, treatment, India.