Magnitude of Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis in Hawassa University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract
Introduction: In most of developed world Tuberculosis is considered as disease of the past. However; the impact of this disease is overwhelming in developing countries. Tuberculosis lymphadenitis is the main cause of lymphadenophathy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hence; this study was aimed to assess the magnitude of Tuberculosis lymphadenitis in patient with enlarged lymph node referred to cytology unity of Hawassa University referral hospital. Methods: A five years trend of Tuberculosis lymphadenitis was retrospectively studied from January, 2009 to January, 2015. Data were entered and analysed by SPSS version 16.00. Logistic regression analyses were used to see the association of different variables. Odds ratios and 95% confidence interval were computed to determine the presence and strength of association. Results: A total of 1,067 lymph nodes were aspirated in a period of five years. Tuberculosis lymphadenitis was found to be 521(48.8%). Cervical lymph nodes were recorded to be the highest 286(54.89%) affected site with tuberculosis lymphadenitis. Age group of 11- 20 years (AOR= 0.30, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.79) and 21- 30 years (AOR= 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.97) were significantly associated with magnitude of tuberculosis lymphadenitis. Similarly, Cervical lymph nodes (AOR= 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.93) were found to be statistically associated with tuberculosis lymphadenitis. Conclusions: A significant percentage of enlarged lymph nodes were caused by Tuberculosis lymphadenitis. Age group and cervical lymph nodes were significantly associated with Tuberculosis lymphadenitis. Pathologists should be conscious of tuberculosis cases whenever they encounter enlarged lymph node to initiates immediate treatments. 

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