Clinical Presentation and Associated Risk Factors of Adult Pulmonary Tuberculosis Cases in Dhaka, Bangladesh
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3329/mediscope.v13i1.87101Keywords:
Tuberculosis, Bangladesh, Clinical features, Risk factors, Smoking, Demographic profileAbstract
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh. Understanding the demographic distribution, clinical features, and associated risk factors among TB patients is essential for improving case detection and control strategies.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and risk factors among diagnosed cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to February 2023 at the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), and the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Seventy-four confirmed pulmonary TB patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled based on real-time PCR positivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Data were collected using a predesigned questionnaire and analyzed descriptively.
Results: The majority of the cases (37.8%) were aged 18–30 years, followed by 31–40 years (32.4%), with a marked male predominance (71.6%). Businessmen (24.3%) and students (20.3%) were the most affected occupational groups. The predominant clinical features included cough lasting more than two weeks (83.8%), respiratory distress (73.0%), and fever persisting for more than two weeks (54.1%). Weight loss, hemoptysis, and anemia were observed in 23.0%, 20.3%, and 14.9% of cases, respectively. Smoking was the most common risk factor (54.1%), followed by chronic respiratory diseases (16.2%) and family history of TB (10.8%).
Conclusion: Pulmonary tuberculosis predominantly affects young, economically productive males in Bangladesh, with smoking emerging as a major associated risk factor. The high frequency of advanced symptoms at presentation highlights delayed diagnosis and health-seeking behavior. Strengthening early case detection, integrating smoking cessation programs, and enhancing community awareness are crucial to reducing TB transmission and improving outcomes.
Mediscope 2026;13(1): 52-57
Downloads
0
0
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Md. Zaber, Md. Sohanur Rahman, Nur Mohammad Khan, Tasnim Rahman, Abu Md. Mayeenuddin Al Amin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in the Mediscope agree to the following terms that:
- Authors retain copyright and grant Mediscope the right of first publication of the work.
Articles in Mediscope are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License CC BY-4.0. This license permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the distribution of the journal’s published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as greater citation of published work.
