Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Respiratory medicine
Investigating patients for tuberculosis
Recent articles on:
Lung diseases
Lung diseases
Abstract
The challenge for all health carers – and particularly GPs – is to know when to consider tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis, what initial tests to order and where to refer the patient for management.
Key Points
- Australia has one of the lowest incidence rates for tuberculosis in the world, with fewer than 1000 cases per year.
- Delays in diagnosis have negative implications for the individual and the community.
- Think of tuberculosis when an overseas-born patient has a chronic cough, systemic symptoms or a neck lump.
- Chest x-ray and sputum examination for tuberculosis are the initial important tests to perform.
- Sputum that is negative on a direct smear for tuberculosis organisms does not exclude the diagnosis of tuberculosis.
- Refer all patients with suspected tuberculosis to tuberculosis centres or specialists experienced in this condition for shared care, notification and contact screening.
Purchase the PDF version of this article
Already a subscriber? Login here.