Publication:

Clinico-radiological pattern of pulmonary tuberculosis with diabetes mellitus

Background The link between diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis has been recognised for centuries. There is growing evidence that diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for tuberculosis and might affect disease presentation and treatment response. The increase in burden of tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) is hitting certain Asian countries harder than other areas. In a global estimate, 15% of all TB cases could be attributable to DM, with 40% of those cases coming from India and China.

Methods It is a cross-sectional observational study with 50 TB patients with DM admitted in department of respiratory medicine Smt. B. K. Shah Medical Institute and Research Centre, Piparia, Waghodia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India total 6 months duration patients were included in the study (2015).

Results Total 50 cases were included in the study. The ratio of male: female was 7:3. Age group of 40 years and 60 years was high. Haemoptysis and weight loss were major complaints. There was a higher involvement of lower lung field (56%) as compared to upper lung field. Bilateral involvement was present in (18%). Cavitary lesions were present in (18%) cases and were more frequently confined to upper lung field (62%,5/9). Total 27 patients of pulmonary TB were first time detected with DM among them 20 patients had higher bacillary load (sputum >2+) and out of 27 newly detected DM patient 15 required insulin.

Conclusions Tuberculosis and DM have strong correlation and patients with diabetes mellitus has high probability of getting infected with tuberculosis.