Management and outcome of TB suspects admitted to the medical wards of a central hospital in Malawi

JH Friend, S Mason, AD Harries… - Tropical …, 2005 - journals.sagepub.com
JH Friend, S Mason, AD Harries, FM Salaniponi, F Neuhann
Tropical doctor, 2005journals.sagepub.com
In a study conducted in the medical wards of Lilongwe Central Hospital, Malawi, 84 (18%) of
470 medical admissions were TB suspects. Of these, 21 (25%) had the diagnosis confirmed;
the median length of time between admission and starting anti-TB treatment was 10 days. Of
the remaining TB suspects, 24 (29%) had another diagnosis made, principally pneumonia,
and 39 (46%) had no diagnosis made, with half of these patients dying under investigation
in hospital. Improved and more rapid ways of managing TB suspects need to be found.
In a study conducted in the medical wards of Lilongwe Central Hospital, Malawi, 84 (18%) of 470 medical admissions were TB suspects. Of these, 21 (25%) had the diagnosis confirmed; the median length of time between admission and starting anti-TB treatment was 10 days. Of the remaining TB suspects, 24 (29%) had another diagnosis made, principally pneumonia, and 39 (46%) had no diagnosis made, with half of these patients dying under investigation in hospital. Improved and more rapid ways of managing TB suspects need to be found.
Sage Journals