TITLE:
The characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis amongst patients attending chest clinic, including age, sex, occupation and hemoglobin concentration in Benin City, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
F. A. Ehiaghe, I. J. Ehiaghe, S. T. Aladenika, S. M. O. Etikerentse, A. I. Ikusemoro, B. H. Oladehinde, E. O. Osakue, S. S. Enitan, J. K. Fadairo
KEYWORDS:
Tuberculosis; Anemia; Alcohol Acid Fast Bacilli (AAFB); Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Clinical Diagnostics,
Vol.3 No.1,
March
20,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Aim: To study characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis amongst patients attending chest clinics in Benin City. Materials and Methods: A total of 816 subjects comprising of 563 (69%) males and 253 (31%) females were enlisted for this study. Sputum specimen and blood were collected from all subjects. Acid alcohol fast bacilli from sputa were examined using the Ziehl Nelson staning technique. Hemoglobin concentration was determined using the method described by Dacis and Lewis. Result: Pulmonary tuberculosis infection was significantly affected by age among the male and female subjects studied (P - 30 years and 41 - 50 years had the highest risk of acquiring TB amongst the male and female population respectively. Although the unemployed subjects had the highest prevalence of TB (35%), occupation did not significantly affect the prevalence of TB (P > 0.05). Irrespective of gender, anemia was significantly associated with pulmonary tuberculosis infection (P female subjects. Anemia was associated with TB infection. Intervention effort at curbing the prevalence of TB and anemia is advocated.