A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CLINICO- RADIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN DIABETIC AND NON DIABETIC ADULTS

Abstract

Atypical presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetics makes the diagnosis of Tuberculosis difficult at times. Given the public health implications of a causal link between Diabetes and Tuberculosis, there is a clear need for the knowledge of this atypical presentation. Results revealed high incidence of hemoptysis in diabetics compared to non-diabetics. Constitutional symptoms were found to be less in diabetics than non-diabetics. Bacteriologically, high bacillary load (3+) was found in diabetics than non-diabetics. Radiologically, the incidence of bilateral involvement, lower zone involvement and cavitation was found to be significantly more common in diabetics than non-diabetics. The above findings of more cavitatory lesions and high bacillary load in diabetics increase the infectiousness of the disease. Now Diabetes being an established risk factor for tuberculosis, dissemination of knowledge of atypical presentation of Tuberculosis among diabetics is important for early diagnosis and preventing the spread of tuberculosis in the community.