Relevance:
Recently, the Global TB report was released by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Key findings:
- Global Scenario –
- Estimated number of deaths from TB increased between 2019 and 2021, reversing years of decline between 2005 and 2019.
- Around 10.6 million people were diagnosed with TB in 2021, an increase of 4.5% from 2020.
- TB is the 2nd leading infectious killer after COVID-19 (above HIV/AIDS).
- Indian Scenario –
- India has the highest TB patient count.
- Gap between estimated TB incidence and reported number of people newly diagnosed is highest in India (24%).
- India was among the three countries that accounted for most of the reduction in 2020 (67% of the global total).
- Top 5 risk factors of TB – Undernutrition, HIV infection, Alcohol use disorders, Smoking and Diabetes.
About Tuberculosis:
- Causal Agent – Bacteria – Bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- It most often affects lungs (Pulmonary TB) but can affect other sites.
- Medications – Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide, Bedaquiline etc.
- Licensed vaccine – Bacillle Calmette-Guerin (BCG)
- Diagnosis – Rapid molecular diagnostic tests, Sputum smear microscopy and Chest X-rays.
- Symptoms – Prolonged cough, chest pain, weakness/fatigue, weight loss, fever, etc.
- Transmission – Person to person through air.
- Drug-Resistant TB –
- Multidrug Resistance TB (MDR): Resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin.
- Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB): Resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs.
- Totally drug-resistant tuberculosis (TDR-TB): Resistant to all first- and second-line TB drugs.
Reference: The Hindu
