Prevalence and Risk Factors of ENT Symptoms in Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Background: Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) symptoms are less well-documented but are vital for diagnosis and treatment of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB), which affects organs outside the lungs. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the various ENT symptoms of TB in patients undergoing treatment at a tertiary care hospital's outpatient department (OPD). Methodology: In this cross-sectional research, which took place at Hazara University, KPK, between August 2020 and January 2021, 124 patients with ENT-related EPTB were included. Complete ENT histories, physical exams, and a range of diagnostic tests, such as biopsies, endoscopies, and chest X-rays, were performed on the participants. SPSS version 25 was utilized to analyze the data, and the chi-square test was used to look into any relationships between risk variables like smoking. Determining statistical significance required a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: Among the 124 patients with EPTB, the most prevalent ENT symptom was neck swelling, affecting 31 patients (25.00%). This was followed by laryngitis in 28 patients (22.58%) and pharyngitis in 25 patients (20.16%). Chronic sinusitis was observed in 22 patients (17.74%), while voice changes and otitis media were noted in 19 patients (15.32%) and 18 patients (14.52%), respectively. Hemoptysis was present in 15 patients (12.10%). The prevalence of these symptoms was notably higher in patients with symptoms lasting 6-12 months. Additionally, smoking was significantly associated with increased rates of laryngitis (p = 0.033) and hemoptysis (p = 0.039). Conclusion: The research demonstrates that common ENT symptoms in EPTB include neck edema, laryngitis, and pharyngitis, with symptom duration and smoking status having a major impact on their incidence.