Analysis of case-finding process of tuberculosis in Korea

A total of 630 pulmonary tuberculosis patients newly registered with the health centres in the Republic of Korea were interviewed to determine their process of case-finding. One-quarter of the cases had a previous history of tuberculosis. About 70% of these retreatment cases had been treated for less than 1 year, indicating the importance of more thorough follow-through during treatment. Almost all of the cases had at least one standard symptom, with fatigue being most frequent, followed by cough and sputum. On developing the illness, about 40% of the cases were motivated to seek medical help after seeking advice from people other than family members such as friends or health workers. Half of the patients first went to the health centre, and one-third to a private clinic. The average time between the onset of symptoms and the initial medical consultation was 1.8 months (patient's delay). This delay is longer in the rural areas; besides location no other patient characteristics had any correlation with patient's delay. Nearly 80% of all cases were diagnosed as tuberculous within the first 2 weeks. Health centres diagnosed cases faster than private clinics and thus had a shorter doctor's delay. Mean total delay (patient's delay plus doctor's delay) was 2 months, with 80% of this being patient's delay.