Frequency and type of addiction among tuberculosis patients

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis is a major health problem and addiction to either tobacco, drugs or both are considered as major risk factors for the spread of disease. To determine the frequency and type of tobacco and other drug addictions in patients suffering from any type of tuberculosis. Cross-sectional, descriptive study done by PMRC TB research center, at Institute of Chest Medicine; King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital Lahore from March 2012 to July 2012. All patients confirmed with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, either pulmonary or extra pulmonary, were included in the study. A semi structured questionnaire was used to record the information relating to personal profile, microbiological data and the information relating to the drug and tobacco addiction. A total of 202 patients were selected out of whom 110[54.5%] had pulmonary tuberculosis, 91[45%] extra pulmonary tuberculosis and 1[0.5%] had both pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis. Among 202 cases, 40[19.8%] were addicted to tobacco [35 males, 5 females] and 5 were drug addicts [4 males 1 female] while 8 [all males] were both tobacco and drug addicts. After tobacco addiction, cocaine and alcohol were the most common addictions in these tuberculosis patients. Almost 20% patients with tuberculosis are addicted to tobacco or drugs