Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is a major cause of ill health and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The advantage of making early diagnosis prevents morbidity, progression & spread of the disease and lung damage by fibrosis.
Aims and Objective: To assess the value of sputum induction (SI) as a diagnostic tool in patients with suspected pulmonary TB who has no or inadequate sputum or have a sputum smear negative for acid fast bacillus (AFB).
Material and Methods: A cross sectional study of total 90 adult patients who were radiological suspected tuberculosis, detected smear negative initially included. Detailed history of each participant was taken which consists for chief complains, past history of tuberculosis or ATT, family history with thorough Clinical examination. After sputum induction, sputum samples were sent for fluorescent microscopy for AFB examinations under NTEP.
Results: Out of 90 chest x-ray positive (sputum negative) suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum of 56 (62.2%) patients were converted to positive for AFB after sputum induction with 3% NaCl. Out of 90 chest x-ray positive (sputum negative) suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, 65 the patients (72.2%) had ESR ≥60 mm/hr and 41 (45.6%) had infiltrative lesion in their chest x-ray. Majority of cases 80 (88.9%) had cough. Out of which, 50 (55.6%) cases became sputum smear positive after sputum induction and 30 (33.3%) cases remained sputum smear negative after sputum induction.
Conclusion: Sputum induction with 3% NaCl for detection of Acid Fast Bacilli is much more simple, easy, reliable, rapid and accurate diagnostic method in suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis who are sputum smear negative and chest x-ray suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis.