Abstract :
Background: The drug resistant tuberculosis has emerged as an important public health problem. Some
epidemiological factors are known to influence the emergence multi drug resistant tuberculosis. This study
was undertaken to study the epidemiological factors and clinical factors in emergence of multi drug resistant
tuberculosis.
Material and Methods: A cases control study was undertaken in the department of Chest and tuberculosis
of a tertiary care hospital. A total of 30 cases confirmed as Multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients
constituted the cases. About 60 age and sex matched controls were taken in to the study. A detailed history
was taken with the help of a standardised proforma for both cases and controls.
Results: Most of the multidrug resistant tuberculosis cases belonged to earning age group and males
outnumbered females. Cough was the common symptom in cases followed by shortness of breath,
expectoration, fever, haemoptysis, chest pain and wheezing. Controls had symptoms in lesser extent than
cases in this study. The diabetes mellitus and HIV were the common comorbidities among the cases. About
50% of the cases were former smokers and 40% were alcoholics and 16.7% were tobacco chewers in this
study. The treatment was regular in 30% and missed doses were more than 40 in 46.3% of the cases. About
60% of the cases were compliant with the drugs.
Conclusions: This study had shown that, epidemiological factors play key role in emergence of multi
drug resistant tuberculosis and early screening can help in prevention of emergence of multi drug resistant
tuberculosis.
Keyword :
Multi drug resistant tuberculosis, Epidemiology, Symptomatology, Comorbidity, Treatment.