The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of positive respiratory symptomatics among patients seeking treatment at primary health clinics in Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. This cross-sectional study included 603 individuals that answered a questionnaire with socio-demographic data and a question on cough in the previous three weeks. The prevalence ratio was calculated with 5% significance. The proportion of patients with positive respiratory symptoms in the municipality was 4%, varying from 1.6 to 11.7% between regions. The majority (71%) did not report cough as the reason for coming to the health clinic. Variables significantly associated with respiratory symptoms were: shortness of breath (PR = 6.29; 95%CI: 2.22-21.81) and lack of appetite (PR = 2.75; 95%CI: 1.08-6.82). Among patients with respiratory symptoms, cough was the principal reason for seeking treatment. This condition was only associated with two variables, thus demonstrating the need to adopt different strategies to identify these individuals among the daily patient flow in primary health clinics.
Tuberculosis; Respiratory Signs and Symptoms; Primary Health Care
