Introduction :
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health issue affecting millions of people each year. Timely detection and appropriate management are essential to reduce its spread, morbidity, and mortality. This study aimed to observe the prevalence of common clinical symptoms among diagnosed TB patients and their duration. The findings may help healthcare providers improve TB management and treatment outcomes.
Methods :
This observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Pabna Medical College, Pabna, from January 2021 to December 2021.
Results :
Most participants were aged 31–50 years, with 37.93% in the 41–50 age group. Males accounted for 58.62% and females 41.38%. The majority were housewives (37.93%), laborers/farmers (34.48%), and students (12.07%).
Bronchial asthma (86.21%) was the most common comorbidity, followed by hypertension (36.21%) and diabetes mellitus (17.24%). Most participants (63.79%) had a normal BMI (18.5–24.9).
Cough (94.83%) and fever (74.14%) were the most common symptoms. Among patients with intermittent fever, 53.49% had symptoms lasting more than 2 weeks to 1 month. Among those with persistent cough, 60% had symptoms lasting more than 2 weeks to 1 month.
Conclusion :
The study found that most TB patients were aged 31–50 years and predominantly male. Bronchial asthma was the most common comorbidity. Cough was the most prevalent symptom, and both cough and fever often persisted for more than two weeks. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to reduce disease progression and symptom duration.