title: Tuberculosis masquerading as 'constant malaria'.
abstract: Four hundred adults aged 20-60 years, (200 females and 200 males) were studied. All the subjects were residing in the urban areas of Lagos, Nigeria. Thirteen percent claimed they were having "constant malaria" (> 8 times per year), 5% (20) claimed to have cough mostly during the cold period, 2.5% (10) produced mucoid sputum, 2.5% unproductive cough, 13% were AFB smear positive, 1.5% had positive chest X-ray for pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB), 1.5% were HIV positive and 50% were mantoux positive (> 10 mm induration). All who complained of "constant malaria" were AFB positive. Malaria parasite density was lower in those who complained of "constant malaria" than those who did not complain (P = 0.003). The complaint of frequent malaria attack decreased after Antituberculosis therapy for 6 months. This study revealed that in a malaria and tuberculosis endemic region, early stage of tuberculosis can masquerade as "constant malaria". Therefore any such complaint should be fully investigated.
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Federal Ministry of Science & Technology, P.M.B. 2013, Yaba.
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Odunukwe
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Salako
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Nnodu
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Njoku
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003371:Cough / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents