Abstract:
Tuberculosis (TB) is as a result of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and contagious ailment primarily transmissible through inhalation of air-dispersed droplets from active TB patients. By 2021, the World Health Organization recorded ten (10) million TB cases and 1.4 million fatalities. Hematological abnormalities are common in TB patients and hold potential as prognostic indicators. This study evaluated hematological indices among TB confirmed patients attending Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital between April to August 2022. It was a cross-sectional study design used to recruit participants from TB positive patients in KTRH whose venous blood sample were collected by venipuncture and placed in 4 ml Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic tubes for analysis. Simple random sampling technique used in recruitment of 210 participants, 105 patients and 105 negative controls. Flow cytometry technique was used for cell differential count. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate was set up by Westergren technique, thin blood film was prepared and examined morphologically. Statistical analysis for data analysis done using STATA version 23. Independent sampling for t-test was used to compare differences in mean values with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Hematological abnormalities were observed in tuberculosis patients with mean values of hemoglobin level 11.93 ± 2.01 (P=0.001), hematocrit 37.96± 6.36 (P=0.001), mean corpuscular hemoglobin 27.80 ± 4.66 (P=0.028), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration 31.50g/dL (P=0.001), lymphocyte count of 1.81±0.85 x103/μL (P =0.086) of pulmonary TB showed statistical decrements whereas total WBC 7.81 ±4.08 x103/μL (P=0.018), platelet count 328.61±120.99 x103/μL (P=0.009), neutrophil count 4.86 ±3.11 x 103/μL (P =0.044) and ESR 69.18 ± 22.86 mm/hr. (P =0.001) showed increased count. The blood film showed normocytic normochromic anemia in majority of PTB patients. In conclusion, Total WBC, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes count Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCH, MCHC, ESR, Platelets and blood film can be used for diagnosis and prognosis for PTB. This study recommends integrating hematological profiles for diagnosis, treating, monitoring, and clinically managing such patients.
