Under NTEP, a patient diagnosed with pulmonary TB who was sputum smear positive at the end of the second month of treatment is classified as:
- A Treatment failure
- B Defaulter
- C Extended Intensive Phase — continue IP for one more month ✓
- D Relapse case
Correct answer: C. Extended Intensive Phase — continue IP for one more month
Explanation
Under NTEP guidelines, if a patient is sputum-smear positive at the end of month 2, the Intensive Phase (IP) is extended by one additional month (total 3 months IP) and sputum is rechecked at the end of month 3. Treatment failure is declared only when the patient is sputum-positive at the end of month 5 or later. This avoids premature labelling and drug-resistance testing.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.