[Clinical features of respiratory tuberculosis and diagnosis delay].
OBJECTIVE
To make a descriptive analysis of the clinical characteristics of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and find the time of diagnostic delay.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Autonomous Community of Navarre.


METHODS
317 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed between January 1 1993 and June 30 1996.


RESULTS
The most commonly observed symptom was coughing (76.8%), followed by expectoration (63.8%) and high temperature (60.3%). The high percentages of high temperature, asthenia, anorexia and weight loss in HIV-infected patients stood out. The mean period of diagnostic delay was 36.9 to 58.5 days, with a median of 15 days. For 76.8% of patients the delay in diagnosis was under a month.


CONCLUSIONS
Early diagnosis is essential in tuberculosis control, especially in cases transmitted by bacilli, since these are highly contagious for months.
Centro de Salud de Burguete, Navarra.
J
J
Andueza Orduna
A
A
Pérez Trullén
C
C
Moreno Iribas
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*