Tuberculosis Diagnostic Standards are intended to provide a framework for and understanding of the diagnostic approaches to tuberculosis infection disease. The Diagnostic Standards are the base of clinical classification scheme that facilitates management of all persons to whom diagnostic procedures have been applied.
3.1. SETTING QUESTIONS
Majority of tuberculosis cases are generally discovered when patients visit his/her general practitioner. Patients don't immediately report to the general practitioner when they start to feel discomfort. Patients mainly complain of low grade fever up (to 37,5 °C) which is more or less constant. Dry cough with small amount of sputum may accompany the fever in the phase of pulmonary tuberculosis progression.
Medical professionals of any specialty should be aware of the prevalence of tuberculosis and therefore should ask the following questions in a suspected tuberculosis case.
Whether the patient was prior infected with tuberculosis?
Whether his/her relatives were infected with tuberculosis?
Whether the patient had contact with tuberculous patients or animals (household, professional, industrial contact)?
Whether the patient is registered in a tuberculosis dispensary due to (hypersensitive reaction to tuberculin skin test, contact with tuberculous patients or suspected tuberculosis case).
When did the patient have an X-ray examination for the last time?
Whether the patient was invited after the X-ray examination for additional examinations?
Whether the patient has a prison sentence or lived with someone who was in prison?
Whether the patient is homeless, a refugee, migrant or being in unfavorable social conditions?
Whether the patient is registered in HIV/AIDS center?