All adult patients in whom anti-tubercular treatment is being started should undergo baseline assessment of:
Baseline Assessment for Anti-Tubercular Treatment
Starting anti-tubercular treatment requires a baseline assessment to monitor for potential adverse effects. Many anti-tubercular drugs, such as isoniazid and rifampicin, are known to potentially cause liver injury (hepatotoxicity).
Evaluating Patient Assessment Options
It's crucial to assess parameters that are likely to be affected by the treatment. Let's review the options:
- Complete blood count (CBC): While sometimes monitored during treatment, it's not the primary *baseline* test specifically required due to the known hepatotoxicity of TB drugs.
- Liver function test (LFT): This is essential. A baseline LFT establishes the patient's liver health before starting potentially hepatotoxic medications, allowing for comparison and early detection of drug-induced liver injury.
- Lipid profile: This test measures cholesterol and triglycerides. It is not a standard baseline requirement for initiating anti-tubercular therapy.
- Pulmonary function test (PFT): PFTs assess lung capacity and function. While important for managing tuberculosis itself, they are not the primary *baseline* test needed before starting the medications to monitor for drug toxicity.
Therefore, a baseline Liver function test is the most critical assessment among the choices provided when initiating anti-tubercular treatment.
Important Questions from Tuberculosis
Which of the following investigations may be used for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis?
1. Nucleic acid amplification
2. Culture in Middlebrook medium
3. Light emitting diode fluorescent microscopy with auramine staining
4. Peripheral blood smear
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- Recommended first time drug for initial treatment of tuberculosis include all EXCEPT:
The most frequent adverse reaction of significance among people treated for drug-susceptible tuberculosis is:
- The extrapulmonary sites most commonly involved in tuberculosis are all EXCEPT:
- The Gene X-pert test used for MTB detection has the additional advantage of detection of which of the following?
