Muhammad Usman, Ikram Ullah, Shazia Tabassum.
Physical signs of tuberculosis.
Ann Pak Inst Med Sci Jan ;2(4):243-6.

Background: In the developing countries limited resources are available for the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis. Good history and thorough clinical examination are cost effective measures in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Objective: To find out the common and important clinical signs of tuberculosis at the time of presentation in our set up. Study Design: Descriptive study. Patients and Methods: One hundred newly diagnosed admitted cases of Tuberculosis were studied for the physical signs in the Department of Medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar form December 1997 to December 2000. Cases included were 50 pulmonary and 50 extra-pulmonary froms of TB. The diagnosis of TB was based on smear and/or culture positivity for mycobacterium TB and response to antituberculosis therapy. The approach towards diagnosis was different in each form of TB. Known tuberculosis patients, those with malignancy and other chronic illnesses were excluded. Follow up was done in cases where needed. Results: Anemia was commonly observed in all forms of TB. Crackles on auscultation. palpable lymph nodes, dull percussion notes and neck rigidity were commonest clinical signs in cases of pulmonary, lymphatic, pleural and central nervous system TB respectively. Conclusion: Anemia was a common physical sign in both pulmonary and extra pulmonary forms of TB. Important clues to the clinical diagnosis of TB in a young patient are anemia, moderately high temperature and abnormal findings on relevant systemic examination.

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