title: Tuberculous lymphadenitis at Penang General Hospital, Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the incidence, treatment and clinical outcomes of tuberculous (TB) lymphadenitis at Penang General Hospital, Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Penang General Hospital is the referral center for all tuberculosis patients in the state of Penang. Patient records were reviewed to identify patients with confirmed diagnosis of TB lymphadenitis between January 2006 and December 2008. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1,548 tuberculosis cases, 109 (7.0%) patients had TB lymphadenitis. The mean age was 36.4 ± 12.87 years and of the 109 patients with TB lymphadenitis, 35 (33.0%), 37 (34.0%) and 36 (33.0%) were observed for 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. Ethnically, 45 (41.3%) were Malay followed by 37 Chinese (33.9%). Among risk factors for TB lymphadenitis, HIV and diabetes mellitus were seen in 17 (15.6%) and 11 (10.0%) patients, respectively. Cough and fever were the most frequently reported symptoms. In a majority of cases (n = 90, 82.5%) positive results were obtained for fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Directly observed therapy was given to all patients. Sixty-two (56.9%) patients were successfully treated, and 5 (4.6%) patients died during the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no increase in the incidence of TB lymphadenitis over the 3-year study period. The incidence was slightly higher in male than female gender and in Malay (ethnic group). Diabetes mellitus and HIV were the most commonly reported risk factors. FNA is the most reliable diagnostic test.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. amerhayat@ymail.com
authors.forename: Amer Hayat
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Syed Azhar Syed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.forename: Abdul Razak
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Muttalif
authors.forename: Mohamed Azmi
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hassali
authors.forename: Tahir Mehmood
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents