Prevalence of positive tuberculin skin test and associated factors among Makerere medical students, Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Tuberculosis infection among medical students is thought to be higher than that among comparable groups.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of positive Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and associated factors among medical students at Makerere University.

Methods: A-cross-sectional study among randomly selected medical students.

Guidance on the diagnosis and management of asthma among adults in resource limited settings.

Background: Optimal management of asthma in resource limited settings is hindered by lack of resources, making it difficult for health providers to adhere to international guidelines. The purpose of this review is to identify steps for asthma diagnosis and management in resource limited settings.

Methods: Review of international asthma guidelines and other published studies on diagnosis and management of asthma.

Risk factors for asthma exacerbation in patients presenting to an emergency unit of a national referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Asthma exacerbations are caused by a variety of risk factors. Reducing exposure to these risk factors improves the control of asthma and reduces medication needs. Knowledge of the particular risk factors is essential in formulating controlling and treatment protocols.

Evaluation of asthma control using Global Initiative for Asthma criteria and the Asthma Control Test in Uganda.

Setting: Chest clinic of a national referral hospital in a resource-limited country.

Objectives: To determine the level of asthma control, factors influencing asthma control and the accuracy of the Asthma Control Test (ACT).

Design: We collected demographic and clinical data and administered the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) criteria test and the ACT.

Destructive rib lesions in an HIV sero-negative male: an unusual presentation of tuberculosis in a high tuberculosis prevalence setting.

Tuberculosis (TB) of the rib is a very rare form of skeletal TB and its diagnosis may be difficult because of a low index of suspicion by clinicians. The presentation often mimics malignant disease clinically and radiologically and diagnosis may only be confirmed by tissue biopsy. We present a 32-year-old HIV-negative man who presented with a three-month history of progressively worsening pleuritic chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, anorexia and low-grade fever with night sweats.