Outcome of anti-tubercular therapy on rifampicin sensitive non-HIV patients with tubercular cervical lymphadenopathy in Bangladesh

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh. The study aims to evaluate the outcomes of a six-month anti-tubercular therapy in rifampicin (RIF)-sensitive, non-HIV patients with tubercular cervical lymphadenopathy (TCL), and to challenge the conventional wisdom of extended treatment durations. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at Dhaka medical college, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July 2019 to July 2023. A total of 189 patients diagnosed with TCL were included, adhering to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Various socio-demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results: The majority of the participants were aged 15-30 (71.43%) and were female (68.25%). Fever was the most common clinical presentation, affecting 66.67% of the participants. After six months of therapy, 33.86% showed a complete response, and various clinical presentations were observed, with neck pain being the most common (11.64%). Among the 64 with complete response after 6 months, only 7.81% showed relapse at follow-up. Conclusions: Our study suggests that a six-month treatment regimen can yield significant responses in TB patients. It challenges the prevailing notion that extended treatment durations are universally necessary. Treatment plans should be individualized, taking into account the clinical conditions of each patient, and should be advised by a clinician or a respected doctor.