Abstract

Introduction: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the descriptive characteristics, treatment failure and related factors of tuberculosis cases followed up at Şanlıurfa Central Tuberculosis Control Dispensary between 2001 and 2006.

Material and Method: One thousand, one hundred and three case records could be reached of 1287 patients under treatment during these years (85.7%). Of these, 59.7% was male and the mean age was 27.9 years.

Results: The rate of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EP TB) was 28.8%. The percentage of EP TB was significantly higher in females than in males (p<0.05). While the percentage of diagnosis by the positive sputum analysis was 48.1%, the diagnostic tuberculosis culture was 0.8%. Of the patients, 49.8% EP TB cases had organ biopsy. The percentage of the cure status of the cases with positive sputum analysis was 21.8%, and 59.5% completed the treatment successfully. Although they had positive sputum analysis, 2.6% of the cases had stopped the therapy. Other comorbid diseases were present in 8.3% of the cases. Of these, DM was the most common disease - with the rate of 41.5%. Treatment failure rate was between 17.3%-3.3% and showed an annual decrease in rate. The treatment failure status was seen to be significantly higher in the elderly, uneducated, unemployed cases, seasonal workers, and those with side effects (p<0.05). No significant relation between gender, comorbidity, affected organ and treatment failure was found (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Findings of this study showed the necessity for improvement of the services according to the characteristics of the province and infrastructure and development of the health education program regarding health professionals and the community in order to achieve effective and sustainable control, diagnosis and treatment of TB in Şanlıurfa.