ANTI TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT

GENERAL PHYSICIANS APPROACH

Abstract

One of the important reasons of failure to control the Tuberculosis in Pakistan is the lack of knowledge
of general physicians about the management of tuberculosis. A survey of 60 general physicians was carried out in
2003-2005 about the management of TB. Only 31% general physicians were using almost the correct regimen while
69% were not. Only 10% of the general physicians were going for the Mantoux test (specially in children between 6-12
years) while 90% were diagnosing on the basis of clinical features, blood CP and chest x-ray diagnosing on the basis
of 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 patients
accordingly and require extensive refresher courses about the management of Tuberculosis.