Yield of pulmonary tuberculosis cases by employing two screening methods in a community survey.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the yield of tuberculosis (TB) cases by two screening methods.


METHODS
Two disease surveys conducted in Tiruvallur, south India.


RESULTS
Of bacteriologically confirmed cases, 60% were identified by symptom inquiry alone whereas 82% were identified using chest radiography (CXR).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of TB was underestimated by both methods. The total cases in this community can be estimated by multiplying the number of identified cases by a correction factor (CF) of 1.7 when symptom inquiry alone is used or 1.2 when CXR is used. The CF may be different in other settings.
Tuberculosis Research Centre, Chennai, India.
P G
PG
Gopi
R
R
Subramani
K
K
Sadacharam
P R
PR
Narayanan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*