ISSN 0303-5212
 

Original Research 
RMJ. 2018; 43(4): 577-580


Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan

Fawad Ali, Muhammad Shafee, Ali Akbar, Naimatullah Khan, Munir Ahmad Khetran, Fazalur Rahman, Muhammad Alam Mengal.

Abstract
Objective: To screen Afghan refugees residing in Balochistan for pulmonary tuberculosis.
Methodology: A total of 500 sputum samples were collected from patients visiting Fatima Jinnah Chest and General Hospital, Quetta and tested for presence of tubercle bacilli using Ziehl–Neelsen staining. The smear positive patients were reconfirmed through hematological profile and amplification of mycobacterial DNA targeting IS 6110 gene using conventional PCR.
Results: Out of 500 patients, 61 (12.2%) were found positive on smear, while PCR confirmed 60/61 samples. Higher positivity (n=35, 57%) was found in males compared to females (n=26, 43%). The disease was prevalent in productive and active age group (25-75 year) than young age group (1-25 year). The ESR was significantly higher in all patients while hemoglobin was lower in 35 (57%) patients. Possible risk factors found were overcrowding in refugee camps, living in shared rooms, unhygienic condition, poverty, illiteracy, smoking and least access to the health centers.
Conclusion: The study strongly recommends extensive health education and hygiene campaign to be launched in the refugee camps. It draws the attention of DOTS program organizers to take stern action in rural settings to control the disease.

Key words: Mycobacterium, refugees, tuberculosis, bacilloscopy.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Ali F, Shafee M, Akbar A, Khan N, Khetran MA, Rahman F, Mengal MA. Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan. RMJ. 2018; 43(4): 577-580.


Web Style

Ali F, Shafee M, Akbar A, Khan N, Khetran MA, Rahman F, Mengal MA. Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan. https://www.rmj.org.pk/?mno=283511 [Access: December 05, 2023].


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Ali F, Shafee M, Akbar A, Khan N, Khetran MA, Rahman F, Mengal MA. Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan. RMJ. 2018; 43(4): 577-580.



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Ali F, Shafee M, Akbar A, Khan N, Khetran MA, Rahman F, Mengal MA. Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan. RMJ. (2018), [cited December 05, 2023]; 43(4): 577-580.



Harvard Style

Ali, F., Shafee, . M., Akbar, . A., Khan, . N., Khetran, . M. A., Rahman, . F. & Mengal, . M. A. (2018) Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan. RMJ, 43 (4), 577-580.



Turabian Style

Ali, Fawad, Muhammad Shafee, Ali Akbar, Naimatullah Khan, Munir Ahmad Khetran, Fazalur Rahman, and Muhammad Alam Mengal. 2018. Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan. Rawal Medical Journal, 43 (4), 577-580.



Chicago Style

Ali, Fawad, Muhammad Shafee, Ali Akbar, Naimatullah Khan, Munir Ahmad Khetran, Fazalur Rahman, and Muhammad Alam Mengal. "Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan." Rawal Medical Journal 43 (2018), 577-580.



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Ali, Fawad, Muhammad Shafee, Ali Akbar, Naimatullah Khan, Munir Ahmad Khetran, Fazalur Rahman, and Muhammad Alam Mengal. "Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan." Rawal Medical Journal 43.4 (2018), 577-580. Print.



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Ali, F., Shafee, . M., Akbar, . A., Khan, . N., Khetran, . M. A., Rahman, . F. & Mengal, . M. A. (2018) Frequency of Pulmonary tuberculosis in Afghan assylum seekers dwelling in Balochistan, Pakistan. Rawal Medical Journal, 43 (4), 577-580.