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VOLUME 59 , ISSUE 1 ( January-March, 2017 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Prevalence of Tuberculosis Among Bronchial Asthma Patients Treated with Steroids

KV Anees, Mahendra Nagar

Keywords : Bronchial asthma, Corticosteroids, Tuberculosis

Citation Information : Anees K, Nagar M. Prevalence of Tuberculosis Among Bronchial Asthma Patients Treated with Steroids. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2017; 59 (1):13-15.

DOI: 10.5005/ijcdas-59-1-13

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 18-11-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2017; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background. Bronchial asthma and tuberculosis (TB) are two of the common diseases seen in developing countries, and most of the patients with bronchial asthma require life-long therapy with steroids. Objectives. To estimate the frequency of pulmonary TB among bronchial asthma patients treated with corticosteroids. Methods. Patients with bronchial asthma who have been on steroid therapy were enrolled. Diagnosis of TB was made by history, clinical examination, and laboratory tests findings. Results. Of 100 patients with bronchial asthma, 11 patients developed pulmonary TB (4 sputum-positive, 7 sputumnegative). Of the 60 patients who were on oral steroids, 52 were taking steroids for more than 2 years; of them, 10 (19%) patients developed pulmonary TB. Of the 40 patients who were on inhaled steroids, 80% were using it for more than 2 years; 1 (3.2%) of them developed pulmonary TB. Conclusion. Systemic corticosteroid therapy significantly increases the risk of pulmonary TB in patients with bronchial asthma.


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