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Tuberculosis: A National Menace

Every year 24th March is celebrated as World TB Day appetite, weight loss and night
commemorating the discovery of Mycobacterium sweats. If someone has some or
tuberculosis (the bacteria that causes TB) by Dr Robert any of the symptoms which are
Koch in 1882. When we think of TB, we usually think exaggerating with time one needs
of a respiratory disease affecting the lung which is the to consult a doctor immediately.
most common presentation but it does not limit itself If left untreated TB can cause lung
to just lungs, it has the potential to affect every part fibrosis, respiratory failure, spread
and organ of the body from Brain to Bone except Hair to other organs and hindering
and Nails. Although there are diseases much more their functions. Dr. Shikhar Prasad
S/o Kishor Prasad,
severe than TB, the global burden of TB and its imprint What are the challenges in DIG, Range, New Delhi
on India is a huge challenge. The impact on India eradicating TB from India? First
is more concerning given the fact that our country is the social stigma with the disease and taking the
already carries a myriad of health disorders ranging disease lightly which leads to delayed diagnosis of
from Dengue to Malaria to Hypertension and Diabetes, the disease causing more disease morbidity and
when coupled with TB it becomes a double- mortality in addition to the spread of
edged sword. infection to others. Social stigma also
causes social exclusion of patients
WHO (World Health organization) leading to under reporting of
report says every day 3,500 cases giving rise to Tip of Iceberg
people worldwide lose their phenomena.
lives to TB and around
30,000 become affected Second, Poor healthcare
with the bacteria. India and Infrastructure. Though
alone accounts for 27% we are upgrading and
of the global TB cases, expanding our health
this is very concerning system to reach last mile
given the fact that TB is connectivity still there are
a detectable and curable miles to go given that we
disease and treatment have a huge population
regimes have been part of to cater. As per State of
the existing health systems Healthcare in Rural India
for a long time. In India this 2024 report only 39% have
disease is largely affecting poor and vulnerable , access to diagnostic facility within
as evident in India TB report 2024 by Ministry of Health commutable distance and 90%
and Family Welfare, which said nearly 7.44 lakh TB of people do not undergo routine
patients were undernourished in 2022 and people living health checkups unless recommended by
with HIV have a 20 times higher risk of developing a doctor.
TB than normal population. To summarize we can
definitely say that India is a global TB hotspot. Third, Poverty and Malnutrition. Multidimensional
Poverty Index which takes into account 3 key
Coming to the mode of infection TB spreads by dimensions – Education, Health and Living
inhalational route, source of infectivity is an active open standards states that 16.4% of people in India are
case of TB to a susceptible individual. The way can be Multidimensionally poor. The State of Food security
through coughing, sneezing, etc. The disease can be and nutrition in world report 2023 says around 74% of
asymptomatic but generally presents with symptoms India’s population could not afford a healthy diet. As
such as fever (particularly in evening), weakness, per National Family Health Survey 5 35.5% of children
prolonged cough (more than 2 weeks with or without under five years are stunted (low height for age), 32.1%
blood), breathlessness or shortness of breath, loss of are underweight and 3% are overweight showing the