It is estimated that one-third of the world’s population is infected with latent TB. Up to 1 in 10 of people with a latent TB infection (but who do not have HIV) will develop active TB at some point.
Parts of the world that have high rates of TB include:
- Africa – particularly sub-Saharan Africa (all the African countries that are south of the Sahara desert) and West Africa, including Nigeria and South Africa
- Southeast Asia – including India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh
- Russia
- China
- South America
FOR MORE INFO: http://www.stoptb.org/countries/tbdata.asp
In spite of the availability of chemotherapy for TB, there are 14 million Tuberculosis cases in India and a staggering 5,00,000 deaths every year due to this disease. Most TB cases occur in the 15-59 year age group (economically the most productive years).
World TB Day Every year March 24th is observed as the ‘World TB Day’ because TB was discovered by Robert Koch on March 24th 1880. Despite the availability of good chemotherapy and effective treatment regimens TB kills more adults each year than any other infectious disease – more than malaria, diarrhea, AIDS and other tropical diseases put together. Awareness about the symptoms of the disease and removal of the stigma about the disease are crucial factors in TB control.
| Myths about TB |
Facts about TB |
| TB is a hereditary disease |
TB is a disease that spreads through air |
| TB occurs only in lower socioeconomic group |
Anyone can get TB irrespective of socioeconomic status |
| Smoking causes TB |
Smoking aggravates TB |
| TB patients should be hospitalized |
TB patients can be treated at home and he can continue to work |
| Tuberculosis causes lung cancer |
Lung diseases that cause scarring of the lung tissues, such as tuberculosis, can increase the risk of developing lung cancer. There are many causes of lung cancer, with smoking being the number one cause |
The MDR-TB prevalence is estimated to be 2.3 per cent among new cases and 12-17 per cent among re-treatment cases according to WHO estimates. However, we have to keep in mind that, this does not include patients treated by the private practitioners.
FOR MORE INFO: http://www.who.int/tb/challenges/mdr/TDRFAQs160112final.pdf
For Drug Sensitive TB treatment for a duration of 6 months, the total cost ranges from Rs.4,000- 8,000 (including medications and investigations).
Whereas for a drug resistant TB treatment, the costRs.10.000 per month for approx. 6 months (intensive phase) followed by Rs.5000 per month for around 1-1.5 years (continuation phase).
MDR-TB treatment depends on the lesser effective drugs (as compared to the first line anti TB medications). Thus, the treatment duration is much longer (≥2 years) as compared to that with the first line antiTB agents. These medications are costlier and are less well tolerated in view of there side effect profile.
Yes. There are even worse forms, like Extensively Drug resistant (XDR) TB and TDR-TB, in which there is resistance to second line TB drugs as well.
Yes. Even Multi Drug resistant TB can be cured. However, the patient will have to take treatment for a longer duration which can extend up to two years or even more, (depending on the resistance pattern found in the germ according to various test results).
There are times when TB germs are “resistant” to one or more of the TB medicines most often prescribed by doctors. This means that the medicines are not able to kill the TB germs. Drug-resistant TB can develop if people with active TB take their medicine incorrectly, or if they have not been given the right dosages of TB medicines. When this happens, combinations of other (second line) TB medicines have to be given to the patient. These medicines are not as effective and have to be taken much longer.
A person with untreated drug-resistant TB of the lungs or throat can spread drug-resistant germs to other people. Drug-resistant TB can take much longer to cure than regular TB.
FOR MORE INFO: http://www.searo.who.int/en/Section10/Section2097/Section2106_10677.htm#TB_disease_treated
If people with active TB disease do no take their medication, they can become seriously ill, they can develop germs that are resistant to the TB medications and may even die. But people with active TB disease can be cured, if they have proper medical treatment and take their medication as prescribed.