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Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is still a big health problem around the world, especially in places like Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) where there aren't many diagnostic tools, which makes it harder to find and stop the disease from spreading. Correctly identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis is necessary for successful treatment and control. So, the goal of this study was to test the accuracy of common diagnostic tools like fluorescent microscopy, GeneXpert, and culture to help improve TB diagnosis in the area.
The research was carried out at the National TB Control Centre in Mirpur, involving 580 TB patients, comprising 332 males and 248 females. Seventeen percent of these people were in the hospital, and eighty-three percent were not. Most of the patients (207) were between the ages of 21 and 40. Ninety-seven people were found to have pulmonary TB, and five people were found to have extrapulmonary TB. Fluorescent microscopy found 91 positive samples, GeneXpert found 102, and culture found the most positive samples, 109, confirming that it is the most sensitive test.
Culture is still the most accurate way to diagnose a disease, but GeneXpert is a quick and accurate way to find it that is good for making decisions in the early stages of treatment. Fluorescent microscopy is good for screening, but it's not enough on its own. These results emphasise the necessity of incorporating various diagnostic techniques to enhance tuberculosis detection and optimise patient outcomes in AJK.