TB AND AWARENESS

TB AND AWARENESS

TB is a global disease. Every year about 330,000 patients are die every year in the world India alone. TB can involve any part of the body, but Lung TB is the commonest as TB bacteria spreads by airborne methods (cough). Patients generally have symptoms like weight loss, loss of appetite, low to medium grade fever for more than three weeks.

Diagnosis of TB can be a very challenging task

• Sputum examination for AFB (Acid Fast Bacilli) in typical patients. If these investigations are negative, then diagnosis can be very difficult as TB can be a differential diagnosis in virtually all infective diseases
• In countries like India, where TB is rampant, many a times it is a diagnosis by exclusion
• In spine, brain, bone and abdominal tuberculosis, CT scans of specific areas can be very helpful

Lasts for at least 6-9 months. In borne TB, it can take up to 18 months
With proper compliance, response to anti-TB drugs is very good and most patients recover completely
Not taking first line drugs properly results in drug resistance and emergence of MDR-TB (MTB resistant to Rifampicin and Isoniazide). In MDR-TB second line anti-TB drugs are used for nearly 18 to 24 months and unfortunately, not with good results

You may have TB:
If you have undiagnosed fever and cough for more than 3 weeks
If you have blood in your sputum

Also remember:
Always take complete treatment for 6-9 months
Stopping treatment midway, even if you feel well, can promote MDR-TB, a very difficult disease to treat
Never add one or two second line anti-TB drugs to a failing first line regime, as it will only promote MDR-TB, please consult an expert
DOTS treatment under RNTCP is available at several TB centre free-of-cost.
Today lack of finance is not a reason to treat TB effectively in DOTS era.