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Passive Case Finding
Learning ObjectivesThe learner will be able to discuss the passive case finding approach in TB.
Passive case finding is essentially where the patient self reports to the health care provider with symptoms. This requires that affected individuals are aware of their symptoms, have access to health facilities, and are evaluated by health workers or volunteers who recognise the symptoms of TB and link those individuals for TB testing services.
This approach to case finding has the least effort and cost and is a minimum expectation. In a Peripheral Health Institution (PHI), it is estimated that about 2-3% of new adult outpatients are symptomatic that require referral for TB diagnosis (presumptive TB cases).
Passive case finding may miss TB patients if :
- The disease is mild/ transient.
- Access to healthcare is poor.
- Health providers do not have an adequate index of suspicion and are unable to reliably link respiratory symptoms to TB.
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Assessment
| Question | Answer 1 | Answer 2 | Answer 3 | Answer 4 | Correct answer | Correct explanation | Page id | Part of Pre-test | Part of Post-test |
| Which of the following can be considered a passive case finding? | TB case finding for all patients attending an HIV clinic. | TB case finding in all inmates of an elderly home. | Patients attending a PHC with symptoms are referred for testing by the doctor. | TB case finding among household contacts of a TB case. | 3 | All other examples except those attending PHC referred for TB testing are cases of active or intensified case finding effort. | Yes | Yes | |
| What may cause a passive case finding to miss cases? | Healthcare providers fail to notify the case. | Healthcare providers do not refer cases for TB testing. | There are no health facilities in the area. | Both 2 and 3 | 4 | Healthcare providers failing to notify cases is missing notification and not related to passive case finding. | Yes | Yes |
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