Demographic risk factors for extra-pulmonary tuberculosis: a rising public health threat in Bhutan.

BACKGROUND: Recently, extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) has been increasingly reported in Bhutan, rising from 26% in 2001 to 39% in 2010. In 2016, almost half (49%) of all reported TB cases were classified as EPTB. Thus, this study was conducted to understand the epidemiology and identify risk factors contributing to increasing notification of EPTB in Bhutan. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted by recruiting all 110 cases of nationally notified EPTB (Extrapulmonary bacteriologically confirmed/EPBC) as cases and 235 Pulmonary TB (Pulmonary bacteriologically confirmed/PBC) as controls. Data were collected on socio-demography, clinical and diagnostic, behavioral and lifestyle and environmental exposures using a structured questionnaire between April and September, 2018. RESULTS: The median age of the cases was 25 years, ranged 9-79 years. Lymphatic TB was predominant (n = 78; 70.91%) followed by genitourinary TB (n = 4 (3.64%). The likelihood of EPTB decreased with increase in age (p = 0.023). The odds of EPTB in females was 1.65 times higher than the males (p = 0.038). Increase in Body Mass Index (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.052-1.200) and urban residency were (AOR 1.6; 95% CI 1.016-2.805) were found to have higher odds of developing EPTB. CONCLUSION: Females, urban residents, and those with higher BMI are at increased risk of developing EPTB. These at-risk groups can be used to target limited public health resources to control EPTB in Bhutan.

Audiological monitoring of patients undergoing multidrug resistant tuberculosis treatment at Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital and Gidakom Hospital, Bhutan.

BACKGROUND: Hearing impairment due to ototoxicity is one common cause adding to global burden of disability. Amikacin and kanamycin are two common Aminoglycosides used to treat multidrug resistant tuberculosis which results in ototoxicity. The mean prevalence rate of multidrug resistant tuberculosis in Bhutan stood at 16%. OBJECTIVE: The study is aimed to establish prevalence rate of hearing impairment due to ototoxicity and secondary side effects which may ascertain specific early intervention. METHOD: A total of 42 Patients undergoing multidrug resistant tuberculosis treatment participated in the study conducted at Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital and Gidakom Hospital over a period of one year. Audiological tests were conducted once every month. The severity of ototoxicity was being graded using Brock's hearing loss grades. RESULT: The study found 45.23% participants with some degree of hearing loss consequent to multidrug resistant tuberculosis treatment. Around 9.5% of the total participants developed potential disabling hearing loss. Around 30.09% of participants had experienced subjective tinnitus during the course of treatment. Study found no significant association (p-value 0.88, 95%CI 0.93-1.00) between referred test result of DPOAE (distortion product Otoacoustic emission) screener and the ototoxicity. CONCLUSION: Study showed with significant prevalence of ototoxicity. Since hearing impairment have negative impact on psychosocial wellbeing and communication abilities, it is paramount importance to put in place the various preventative measures. With current guidelines by World Health Organisation on replacement of second-line injectable by oral regimens while treating patients with MDR-TB, it is expected to address ototoxicity and related issues.

Evaluation of the radiological sequelae after treatment completion in new cases of pulmonary, pleural, and mediastinal tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Residual radiological lesions may persist even after successful treatment of tuberculosis. There is insufficient data as to the nature and magnitude of these opacities in the treated cases of tuberculosis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the nature and magnitude of residual radiological opacities and of complete radiological resolution in new successfully treated cases of tuberculosis. DESIGN: Four hundred and forty one new cases of pulmonary, pleural or mediastinal tuberculosis were radiologically evaluated by chest x-ray, PA view, at the start and end of a successful treatment, which was as per the World Health Organization (WHO), Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP), and Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course (DOTS) guidelines. Patients with a previous history of tuberculosis or other lung conditions, treatment failure, retreatment cases, and multidrug tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases were excluded. RESULTS: Residual x-ray lesions were seen in 178 cases of tuberculosis (40.36%). Complete radiological resolution was seen in 263 cases (59.64%). Of the residual lesions, 67.4% were parenchymal were parenchymal in nature, 23.59% were pleural lesions and 8.99% were mediastinal lesions. Out of the 126 sputum-positive cases, 70% (n = 88)had residual lesions on chest x-ray whereas of the 315 sputum-negative cases 28.5%, (n = 99) had radiological residual lesions. CONCLUSION: Residual radiological opacities are seen in a large proportion of treated cases of tuberculosis (40%). Pulmonary lesions show more residual lesions (67%) than pleural (23%) and mediastinal lesions (9%).