Respiratory symptoms in people attended in health facilities of the Ministry of Health in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of symptomatic respiratory (SR) cases, according to the programmatic definition, among people who attend medical offices at first-level health facilities of the Ministry of Health in Lima under normal circumstances. The study also aims at identifying the percentage of patients with tuberculosis among the RS and among coughers over seven days. Materials and Methods. Cross-sectional study of patients attending consultations at 57 health centers. Patients with cough and phlegm lasting more than seven days and RS were identified and a sputum sample was taken to rule out tuberculosis by smear and culture. Results. A total of 10,421 people was surveyed. A 2.7% had cough with phlegm for ≥7 days and only 1.1% were SR; 215 patients were screened for tuberculosis. Seven (5.9%) of the RS and eight (4.8%) of the patients with a 7-14-day cough had tuberculosis. Conclusions. The percentage of RS in the Ministry of Health’s health facilities in Lima was less than the expected 5%, ranging from 0.8% in Callao to 1.5% in Lima City. The percentage of tuberculosis among coughers (lasting 7-14 days) and RS is consistent with the findings of other local studies. Consideration should be given to lowering the RS target to less than 5% and expanding tuberculosis screening to patients with cough ≥7 days at the Health Divisions with high tuberculosis incidence.