Sociodemographic, Clinical Profile and Outcome of Tuberculosis in Baramulla District of North Kashmir of India

Background: India accounts for one-fourth of the global tuberculosis (TB) burden. Since the countrywide implementation of RNTCP, tuberculosis care has received renewed focus. Directly observed treatment short-term (DOTS) is a cornerstone of RNTCP program. Objective: To evaluate demographic profile, clinical presentation and outcome of TB in district Baramulla of North Kashmir. Methods: A prospective study over a period of seven years in patients diagnosed with TB in district Baramulla of North Kashmir. Results: This study was conducted prospectively over seven years from March 2011 to February 2017. A total of 802 patients were enrolled in the study. Among them, there were a total of 638 adult patients and 164 paediatric patients with a male: female ratio of 1:0.99. Majority of patients belonged to rural areas of north Kashmir and had received no or elementary education. Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed in 530 (66 %) patients and 272 (34%) patients were diagnosed as extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Sputum for AFB was important mode of diagnosis in our series and was positive in 525 (65%) our patients. Majority of patients presented with fever, weight loss, and night sweats. None of the patients had Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). There was a consistent improvement in AFB isolation among TB patients over the study period. Majority of our patients were cured completely of disease Conclusion: Sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis remains the most common presentation of tuberculosis in North Kashmir. There is a steady increase in the proportion of bacteriologically confirmed TB cases over the study period. Furthermore, DOTS treatment is successful in all forms of tuberculosis. JMS 2018;21(1):11-16