title: Hematological profile and risk factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Quetta, Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic debilitating infectious disease affecting more than one third of the global population. This study was designed to investigate different peripheral blood parameters and risk factors in TB patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 600 (Male, 238 and Female, 362) aging 20-80 Years patients with clinical signs of prolonged cough, chest pain and fever, were evaluated for peripheral blood parameters using hematology analyzer. All the informations related to the disease were collected from the patients and recorded using predesigned questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Erythrocytic Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Hemoglobin (Hb) and lymphocytes were markedly changed in both sexes. Hemoglobin was recorded lower than normal value in 55% and 53% of male and female population respectively. Total leukocyte count was also lower than normal values in 8% and 6% of male and female respectively. Similarly neutropenia was observed in 5% and 8% cases, while neutrophilia was recorded as 60% and 64% in male and female patients respectively. Lymphocytopenia was also observed in 59% and 43% patients in male and female respectively. Illiteracy, smoking habits, overcrowding and living in shared houses were the main associated risk factors contributing in the enhancement of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The disease was present significantly more in females and was relatively higher in older patients. Different hematological parameters like Erythrocytic sedimentation Rate (ESR), platelets and leukocytes work as hallmark and help the clinicians in early diagnosis of the disease. Malnutrition, smoking tobacco, living in shared houses, illiteracy and poverty were the common risk factors contributing to the dissemination of the tuberculosis in the target area population.
authors.affiliation: Muhammad Shafee, Centre for Advanced Studies in Vaccinology & Biotechnology (CASVAB), University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shafee
authors.affiliation: Ferhat Abbas, Centre for Advanced Studies in Vaccinology & Biotechnology (CASVAB), University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ferhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Muhammad Ashraf, Fatima Jinnah Chest & General Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Mohammad Alam Mengal, Centre for Advanced Studies in Vaccinology & Biotechnology (CASVAB), University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alam Mengal
authors.affiliation: Niamatullah Kakar, Fatima Jinnah Chest & General Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Niamatullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kakar
authors.affiliation: Zafar Ahmad, Centre for Advanced Studies in Vaccinology & Biotechnology (CASVAB), University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Fawad Ali, Balochistan University of Information Technology & Management Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fawad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ali
keywords: ESR; Hematology; Hemoglobin; Risk factors; Tuberculosis