Tuberculosis: A Serious Concern

Dr. Sofia Salim Malik, Senior Consultant Pulmonologist, Allergy, Immunology & Sleep Consultant, SUT Hospital, Pattom

Despite advancements in modern medicines TB remains a global health threat with millions of death annually. As per WHO statistics. 1.25 million people died of TB in 2023 and 10.8 million fell ill with TB in 2023.
Apart from its devastating consequences in health, TB has much more social and economic implications. In 1882, this day Dr, Robert Koch discovered TB which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease. Now this day serves as a platform for educating the public about the impact of TB on the health, social and economic wellbeing of people worldwide.
Preventive measures include early diagnosis and effective treatment, promoting access to quality health care services to everyone irrespective of Economic status and Nationality.

How is TB diagnosed?

Proper medical history, physical evaluation and different molecular tests, X-Ray, bacteriological examinations of specimen helps to confirm diagnosis.

Targeted testing for TB

This is the strategy to diagnose and treat latent TB infection. Latent TB is the condition where patient herbous TB battle in his body, but not had developed the disease. This latent TB patients are at more risk for developing TB disease.

Risk factors for TB

Person who are at a higher risk of exposure to TB bacteria

• This include person who are in contact or had contact with TB patients.
• Patients who are born in TB endemic countries or with frequent travel to such countries.
• People who live in shelters or crowded places or nursing home.
• Healthcare workers who are in contact with TB patients.
• Infants, children and adolescents exposed to adults who are at risk for latent TB / TB disease.

Person with risk of developing disease once infected with TB bacteria

1. HIV patients
2. Children below 5years of age.
3. People with recent TB infection (within 2 years).
4. Patients with history of inadequately treated TB.
5. Patients who are on immunosuppressant treatments like cancer chemo therapy.
6. Patients with case of leukaemia, cancer of head, neck or lungs.
7. Diabetes mellitus

Tests for TB

• TB blood test – Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA)
• TB skin Test – Tuberculin Skin Test

Blood test and skin test will always be positive in patients with history of TB. If a patient has signs and symptoms of TB proper history and clinical examination along with X-Ray and Sputum foe AFB will help in diagnosis.

Once diagnosed patient is enrolled into the Nikshay scheme, notified and initiated on antiTB treatment, which is monitored for compliances by health care workers.

Goals of TB treatment

• Disease care fatality and ensure release free cure.
• Prevent development of drug resistance
• To make patient less infection, so as to break the chain of transmission and to decrease the pool of infection.

Success of any reduction progression depends on community leadership, civil society action and private-public collaboration. So act now invent now deliver now together, Yes, we can end TB.