Delay in the diagnosis of Turkish servicemen with pulmonary tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess the time between the first appearance of symptoms and the start of treatment among Turkish servicemen with tuberculosis (TB).


METHODS
Ninety-seven patients with pulmonary TB were enrolled in the study. We surveyed their complaints and education levels, the opportunity to visit a health care facility, and the time elapsed until diagnosis and treatment.


RESULTS
Of the study group, 62 (63.7%) reported that they had visited an infirmary as soon as their complaints appeared. The median total delay in diagnosis was 21 days for all cases. Patient delay decreased among patients with hemoptysis (2.1 vs. 6.4 days, p = 0.013) and increased with night sweats (7.3 vs. 3.1 days, p = 0.042). Total delay was not correlated with any symptom.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that delays in diagnosis and treatment among Turkish soldiers with pulmonary TB arise from some factors related to both patients and health care facilities, and these factors should be taken into account by military health services.
Okutan
Oguzhan
O
Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Kadikoy, 81020 Istanbul, Turkey.
Kartaloglu
Zafer
Z
Cerrahoglu
Kamil
K
Ilvan
Ahmet
A
Tozkoparan
Ergun
E
Aydilek
Recep
R
D000328:Adult; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014421:Turkey