ANTI TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT

One of the important reasons of failure to control the Tuberculosis in Pakistan is the lack of knowledgeof general physicians about the management of tuberculosis. A survey of 60 general physicians was carried out in2003-2005 about the management of TB. Only 31% general physicians were using almost the correct regimen while69% were not. Only 10% of the general physicians were going for the Mantoux test (specially in children between 6-12years) while 90% were diagnosing on the basis of clinical features, blood CP and chest x-ray diagnosing on the basisof clinical features, blood CP and chest x-ray investigations.It was concluded from this survey that general physicians in private sector are not managing the TB patientsaccordingly and require extensive refresher courses about the management of Tuberculosis.