Table 3.
Practices related to diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in a child as reported by paediatricians in Mumbai.
| Diagnostic practices± | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms that raise suspicion (n = 63)∗ | ||
| Prolonged fever | 56 | 88.9 |
| Cough for more than 2-3 weeks# | 49 | 77.8 |
| Loss of weight | 46 | 73.0 |
| Contact with/family history of TB | 42 | 66.7 |
| Loss of appetite | 21 | 33.3 |
|
| ||
| Signs that raise suspicion (n = 62)∗ | ||
| Signs of malnutrition | 48 | 77.4 |
| Matted lymph nodes | 47 | 75.8 |
| Respiratory signs (crepitation/rhonchi) | 43 | 69.4 |
| Hepatomegaly | 12 | 19 |
| Splenomegaly | 11 | 17 |
|
| ||
| Investigation advised when patient reports with symptoms (n = 63) | ||
| Chest X-ray | 59 | 93.7 |
| Tuberculin skin test | 55 | 87.3 |
| Complete blood count | 49 | 77.8 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate | 46 | 73.0 |
| Sputum for presence of acid fast bacilli# | 24 | 38.1 |
| Immunoglobulins | 7 | 11.1 |
| Gamma interferon | 3 | 4.8 |
|
| ||
| Advising X-ray and/or tuberculin skin test along with sputum# (n = 24) | 24 | 100.0 |
|
| ||
| Advising GL or BAL for inducing sputum if the child is not able to produce sputum# (n = 64) | 21 | 32.8 |
|
| ||
| Investigation advised when patient reports with X-ray chest suggestive of tuberculosis (n = 63) | ||
| Tuberculin skin test | 42 | 66.7 |
| Complete blood count | 31 | 49.2 |
| Sputum for presence of acid fast bacilli# | 21 | 32.8 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate | 31 | 29.2 |
| Others | 3 | 4.8 |
±Multiple responses; ∗five most common symptoms and signs are presented; # denotes practice in line with International Standards for TB Care; GL: gastric lavage and BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage.