Double barrelled cross Abstract of articles from
Indian Journal of Tuberculosis
reproduced with kind permission
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Vol 52 No 2APR 2005 ISSN 0019-5707

Original articles


P.Kumar: 
The presentation passes through the saga of important landmarks of the past dealing with Era of prechemtotherapy,Conventional and Short Course Chemotherapy(SCC)over two decades and the present era of Directly Observed Treatment Short course(DOTS)spanning more than a decade.It also touches upon the likely challenges to be faced in the near future for Tuberculosis(TB) control
[Indian J Tuberc 2005;52:63-71
 C.Nirupa,G.Sudha,T.Shantha,C.Ponnuraja,R.Fathima,V.Chandrasekharan,K.Jaggarajamma,A.Thomas,P.C.Gopi and P.R.Narayanan
Background:: Non Governmental personnel such as Anganwadi workers and community volunteers have been used as directly observed treatment(DOT)providers in the Revised national TB Control Programme(RNTCP),but their effectiveness has not been documented.
Aim:To assess the treatment outcome and problems encountered by patients managed by different DOT providers in RNTCP Material and Methods:  Patients diagnosed with Tuberculosis at 17 Primary Health Institutions(PHI's)in Tiruvallur district during a 3 year period received DOT from one of the four types of trained DOT providers(PHI staff,governmental out reach workers Anganwadi workers,Community volunteers),and their treatment outcomes were compared.Of the 1131 new smear-positive patients treated between May 1999 through june 2002,199 (18%)received DOT from PHI staff ,238(21%)from out reach workers and 170(15%) from community volunteers.Twenty eight patients (2%)collected drugs for self administration
ResultsTreatment success rates among patients treated by different DOT providers,Anganwadi workers(80%),governmental out reach workers(81%)community volunteers(76%)were statistically similar.Patients who received drugs for self-administration were significantly more likely to fail to treatment or die than patients who were treated by DOT provider(5/28 versus 84/1103;Odds ratio=4.1;95% confidence interval=1.2-12.6;p=0.02)
Conclusion:: In addition to governmental staff ,Anganwadi workers and community volunteers can be effectively utilized as DOT providers
Indian J Tuberc 2005;52:73-77: 
N.K.Jain,Sudip banerjje,S.P.Agnihotri,S.Koolwaal,N.Joshi and Shubhranshu
Background: Pyrazinamide(PZA)has been known to adversely affect the haemostatic mechanism in our body
AimThis study aims to find out whether PZA has any influence on the course of haemoptysis Methods One hundred and six patients of active pulmonary tuberculosis and haemoptysis ,having normal baseline coagulators profile ,were included in this prospective study.One half of them were given PZA containing anti-tuberculosis regimens(PZA group)and the other half were prescribed non PZA containing regimens.(non PZA group).They were managed conservatively and followed up for a period of seven days.
Results: Blood loss during therapy was moderate to massive in amount in majority(56.61%)of patients in the PZA group as compared to non PZA group (35.84%)Though the mean duration of haemoptysis was almost similar in both the groups(3.98 days in the PZA versus 4.12 days in the non PZA group),but in patients in whom haemoptysis lasted for more than 4 days ,in the non PZA group,majority(62.50%)had minimal blood loss compared to the PZA group(48.27%)
Conclusion: Although PZA does not alter the mean duration of haemoptysis,but omission of PZA can significantly reduce blood loss during therapy.
[Indian J Tuberc 2005;52:79-83]: 
S.k>Biswas ,P.K.Jain and R.Bhatt
Background: The RNTCCP has envisaged the role of non-governmental organizations(NGOs)in the control of tuberculosis in India ,and five schemes have been developed .The R.K mission Free TB clinic as an exceptional case ,was included under scheme 5 known as the tuberculosis unit model,with additional independent status of a district tuberculosis centre(DTC),to provide all RNTCP services
Aim To assess the performance of the R.K.mission free T.B clinic as a full fledged independent DTC over a 4-year period from 1999 to 2002
Materials and methods A total of 5209 patients were initiated on anti-tuberculosis therapy under DOTS during 199-2002.The yearly data in terms of case detection ,follow up and treatment outcome of new and re treatment cases were compiled
Results::  Of the 5209 patients initiated on ATT under DOTS 4125(79%) were new patients and 1084(21%)were re treatment cases.Of the 4125 new cases 3049(74%)had pulmonary tuberculosis while 1076(26%)were treated for extra pulmonary tuberculosis.In the newly detected pulmonary tuberculosis cases,the ratio of smear positive to smear negative patients was 1:0.65.The sputum conversion rates at 3 months in the new smear positive patients were 86%(1999),85%(2000),88%(2001)and 91%(2002)The cure and treatment rates in the new smear positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis patients were 79% and 81% respectively in 1999.These rates were comparable for the years 2000,2001 and 2002,with the respective values being 83%,86% and 87%.The treatment completion rates in the new smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis cases as well as in the new extra pulmonary tuberculosis patients were always greater than 85% in the study period. Conclusion These results serve as a successful example of an NGO functioning within the parameters of the RNTCP [Indian J Tuberc 2005;52:85-91]: 
Ashwany Sethi,Deepika Sareen,Anoop Sabherwal and A.K.Agarwal
Background: Tuberculosis of the paranasal sinus is an uncommon presentation.We present a case of a 16 year old female who presented with a polypoidal nasal mass and symptoms consistent with chronic sinusitis.The computerized tomography sac of the paransal sinus was consistent with pansinusitis and sino nasal polyp.The polyp was excised and the histopathological evolution of the surgically removed tissue revealed it to tuberculosis.The patient responded to four drug anti-tuberculosis
[Indian J Tuberc 2005;52:99-101]: 
  • Total number of patients put on treatment in 4th quarter 2004-288102
  • Success rate amongst the new smear positive registered in 4th quarter 2003 was 86%
  • The sputum conversion rate among new smear positive was 90% during the quarter
  • New smear negative cases 94407
  • Extra pulmonary cases 34362
The number of smear positive re treatment cases in this quarter is 36649.The percentage of extra-pulmonary cases account for 14% of all new cases and percentage of re treatment cases is 25% of all smear positive cases in this quarter. [Indian J Tuberc 2005;52:107-109]: 

Created on ... May 10, 2005