Improvement in Symptoms and QuantiFERON TB-2G Test Results after Isoniazid Administration in a Patient with Normal Routine Tests Results / General Medicine

Diagnosis is difficult in patients who complain of slight fever without objective abnormalities. It is not rare that patients without signs of typical <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (TB) infection have a delayed TB diagnosis. It has been reported that the QuantiFERON TB-2G test is useful for diagnosing latent TB infection. We report a patient who suffered from sweating, body weight loss, and a fever of less than 37.5C without abnormalities in routine tests. Except for his complaints, only QuantiFERON TB-2G testing suggested his illness, after which he was successfully treated with isoniazid administration. QuantiFERON TB-2G testing might be useful to diagnose patients with slight fever when TB is suspected but a conventional workup is not diagnostic.

Importancia diagnóstica del leucograma en la etapa febril y post-febril en adultos / The diagnostic importance of the leukogram in the febrile and post-febrile stage in adults

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, de corte transversal a 500 pacientes adultos que asistieron al policlínico "5 de Septiembre" de Consolación del Sur, en el primer semestre del año 2007, con el objetivo de demostrar que no existe variación en el leucograma en la etapa febril y post-febril. Se les realizó un conteo global y diferencial de leucocitos por el método tradicional existente en el momento en que la temperatura corporal se encontraba elevada y en la etapa post-febril del proceso. Para el procesamiento de la información se utilizaron los medios computarizados simples y para la significación estadística la técnica de (Ji_cuadrado) y prueba de comparación de proporciones. De la muestra estudiada el 56,4 %, se encontraban febrículas, 206 tenían fiebre propiamente dicha y sólo el 2,4 % presentaban hiperpirexia, 235 pacientes presentaban cifras de leucocitos dentro de los parámetros establecidos como normales, la leucocitosis ligera predominó en un 48,6 %, seguido de la moderada en un 3,8 %. Predominó la neutrofilia en un 40,8 %, la linfocitosis en un 24 % y existió un bajo por ciento de eosinófilos, monocitos y células jóvenes; no existieron diferencias significativas en los resultados de este complementario en ambas etapas. El tiempo de espera de los pacientes en los cuerpos de guardias a la normalización de la temperatura corporal, osciló desde 30 minutos hasta 2 horas y más. Se diseña una estrategia de capacitación al personal médico sobre este tema.

A descriptive, prospective and cross sectional study with 500 patients attending at "5 de September" Outpatient Clinic in Consolacion del Sur during the first term of 2007 was conducted. This study was aimed at demonstrating that no variation is observed in leukogram during febril and post-febril stage. A Global and differential count of leukocytes was performed by means of the traditional method while the temperature was elevated and during post-febril stage. Simple computerized tools were used to collect the information and for the statistical significance chi-square method and the test for the comparison of proportions. Out of the sample studied 56,4% had slight fever, 206 presented fever and only 2,4% presented hyperpyrexia, 235 patients presented leukocyte counts in the normal parameters established, slight leukocytosis prevailed in a 48,6% followed by moderate in 3,8%. Neutrophilic leukocytosis predominated in a 40, 8%, and lymphocytes 24%; a low percent of eosinophiles, monocytes and young cells was observed; during both stages no significant differences were found in the results of this complementary analysis. The waiting time of the patients in the emergency room to reach the normal temperatures was between 30 minutes to 2 hours and more. A strategy to train medical personnel about the topic is designed.