Is there delay in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in an intermediate to low TB incidence setting

Abstract

A cross-sectional study on pulmonary TB diagnosis delay in an intermediate TB incidence setting showed average patient's delay of 44±61.65days and total delay of 103±148days. Alcoholism, lack of TB cases in family, diabetes mellitus, relapse, cough or tachycardia (p<0.01), absence of hemoptysis, dyspnea and anemia (p<0.01), age ≥40 (p<0.05), negative auscultation and positive sputum smear findings (p<0.05) were significantly associated with patient's delay >30 days. Age <40 years, negative auscultation and sputum smear findings (p<0.01), female sex, city as residence (p<0.05), absence of cough, sputum, weight loss, fever, excavation (p<0.01), and night sweats (p<0.05) were significantly associated with total delay > 103 days. Further population education and continual medical education are waranted.