This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: Communicable Diseases, Subject name: Social & Preventive Medicine
Under passive surveillance for tuberculosis, indication for sputum microscopy is cough for______ weeks or more. 
Select and explain. 
A. 2 weeks, B. 3 weeks, C. 4 weeks, D. 5 weeks
A: 2 weeks
Answer: A: 2 weeks 
Explanation: Ans. a (2 weeks). (Ref. PARK PSM 22nd/ pg. 395-396)REVISED NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL PROGRAMME (RNTPC)# TB is leading killer of adults globally.# India accounts for nearly l/3rd of global burden.# Although exact and current information on TB incidence and prevalence is not available, studies show an incidence rate of more than 200/1,00,000 amongst the highest in the world.# Without HIV, the lifetime risk of developing TB in TB-infected people is about 10%, compared with at least 50% in HIV- infected, TB-infected people.# An estimated 5,00,000 people die from TB in India every year; more than 1000 /day; 1 every minute.# The DOTs strategy represents the most important public health breakthrough of the decade, in terms of lives, which will be saved.# DOT ensures drug intake, improves care and facilitates defaulter retrieval.# The 5 components of DOTs are: (MH'& ESIS 2006)- Political commitment- Diagnosis by microscopy (best way to diagnose pulmonary TB)- Adequate supply of SCC drugs (Short Chemotherapy course drugs)- Directly observed treatment (Short course)- Accountability.# Microscopy is more accurate than X-ray, & correlates with infectiousness as well as with risk of death from TB.# Inter-observer variability is much less with microscopy than with X-ray.# Ask all patients if they have had cough for 2 weeks or more.# For all patients with cough for 2 weeks or more, ensure that 2 sputum examinations (spot-moming-spot) are done in a designated microscopy center.