The relationship between tuberculosis and Diabetes Mellitus in patients

Diabetes Mellitus is associated with higer risk of lower respiratory tract infection including pulmonary tuberculosis with features which differ from that observed in the general non-diabetic population.To assess the effect of diabetes mellitus on the clinical ,bacteriological and radiological presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis diabetic population. This is a cross sectional study that enrolled 50 patients with diabetes mellitus and pulmonary tuberculosis . the patients included in this study had been randomly selected from those attending AL-Hilla Teaching Hospital in Babylon Province – iraq during the period between the 1st of May, 2006 to the 31st of May , 2007. All of the patients had been subjected to thorough physical examination and laboratory investigations .This study revealed male to femaIe ratio of 5:1. Sixteen percent of the sample ( 4 patients ) was of type 2 diabetes . mellitus. 56% of those with diabetes and pulmonary tuberculosis (14 patients) were diabetic for 0-10 years. 38 patients (76% of the sample ) had sputum smear positive , the remaining 12 patients (24 % of the sample) were smear negative / culture positive .Multiple lobe involvement was obvious in 64% of (32 patients ). lower lung field involvement had been detected in 32% of the sample ( 36 patients ) . Caviary lesions had been diagnosed in 30 patients (60% of the sample).This study revealed that diabetes modifies the clinical and radiological picture of pulmonary tuberculosis . Diabetic patients are at higher risk of recurrence and extensive pulmonary involvement . Tuberculosis is associated with poor glycemic control . Diabetes changes the male : female ratio toward the side of male predominance . Lower lung field involvement is more common in diabetics who had pulmonary tubrcu1osis.