tailieunhanh - Ranking of diagnostic features of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis by medical doctors in southeastern Nigeria

They observed that the use of well defined symptoms as diagnostic tool, even in resource limited settings, may improve the chances of diagnosing childhood pulmonary tuberculosis. Fourie et al observed some clinical criteria thought to be most relevant as predictors of tuberculosis in children . These criteria include history of contact with a case of tuberculosis, positive skin test, persistent cough, low weight for age, and unexplained/ prolonged fever. They noted that the criteria for high prevalence setting include case contact and skin tests which were less important, while low body weight, prolonged fever and cough were more indicative of tuberculosis. This study, therefore, intended to discover the diagnostic features on which medical doctors. | NigerianJournal ofPaediatrics 2011 38 3 109-114 ORIGINAL Nnaji G A Chukwu JN Ezechukwu CC Ugochukwu EF Ogbonnaya LU Ogbuabor DC Ranking of diagnostic features of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis by medical doctors in southeastern Nigeria Received 28thFebruary2011 Accepted 3rdAugust2011 NnajiGA Csi Department of Family Medicine Ezechukwu CC Ugochukwu EF Department of Paediatrics Faculty of Medicine College of Health Sciences Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi Campus Anambra State Nigeria E-mail godwsilln@ Tel 2348033335694 Word Count 3971 Chukwu JN Ogbuabor DC German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association 1Hill View Enugu Nigeria. Ogbonnaya LU Department of Community Medicine Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria. Abstract Objective To rank diagnostic features of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis and to determine the effect of working in tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Short Course DOTS facilities on the ranking of these features by medical doctors. Methods A cross sectional descriptive study using structured questionnaires to collect data from medical doctors whose daily routine included attending to sick children in 34 selected children outpatient clinics and TB DOTS centers in southeastern Nigeria. Results Approximately one quarter or 56 of 221 of respondents worked in Directly Observed Treatment Short course DOTS clinics while three quarters or 165 of 221 worked in non DOTS clinics. Maj ority of the respondents ranked chronic persistent cough 1 ranked weight loss and failure to thrive 2 another ranked weight loss and failure to thrive 3 while and ranked History of contact with adult index case and radiographic abnormalities 4 and 5 respectively. The study found that the percentage of doctors working in DOTS clinics who ranked weight loss and failure to thrive 2 was statistically and significantly higher than those of non-DOTS respondents. Conclusions The most important symptoms signs on which medical .