title: Tuberculosis: an eight year (2000-2007) retrospective study at the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
abstract: This was an eight year (2000-2007) retrospective study of tuberculosis in patients admitted to the UMMC. A total of 131 cases were analyzed. Malays constituted the most cases, (43%), followed by Chinese (22%), Indians (17%) and others (18%). The majority of cases were within the 21-60 year old age group, which constituted 69.5% of the total. Males were more commonly affected (65%). Most cases were reported among Malaysians (83%). The majority of patients were unemployed (39%), followed by housewives (10%), laborers (9%), students (8%), shop assistants (7%), and other occupations (27%). The most common presenting complaints were prolonged productive cough, night sweats, fever, anorexia, weight loss (57%), hemoptysis (34%), and undifferentiated symptoms, such as prolonged diarrhea and dysphagia (9%). Sputum was positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in 89%, but only 69% of cases had abnormal chest radiographs. The majority of patients (65%) developed no complications. The most common complications were pleural effusion, pneumothorax and pulmonary fibrosis. The majority of patients (82%) suffered either from diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease or all 3 conditions. Regarding risk factors for tuberculosis, two were HIV positive and two were intravenous drug users. The majority of the patients (85%) did not complain of any side effects from their anti-tuberculosis treatment. Among those who did complain of side effects, the most common were nausea and vomiting (41%), drug induced hepatitis (37%), blurring of vision (11%) and skin rashes (11%). Two cases of death were reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jetan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jamaiah
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohela
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nissapatorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology