According to World Health Organisation (WHO) figures for 2011, India was predicted to have 2.2 million tuberculosis cases out of a global incidence of 9.6 million cases. This means that India carries a disproportionately large burden of the global tuberculosis rate.
TB poses a significant medical challenge in India, with pulmonary tuberculosis being the most prevalent form of the disease, primarily affecting the lungs.
We’ll discuss the causes, clinical symptoms, TB test, forms of tuberculosis, and treatment options in India in this article.
What Is Tuberculosis?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a bacterium that causes the clinical illness known as tuberculosis. It is called a multi-systemic infectious disease because it affects several important organs.
The disease is widespread, particularly in tropical countries. Other than India, China, South Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Nigeria are some other nations.
What Are the Types of Tuberculosis?
There are two main types of TB infections.
Latent tuberculosis: The human body contains TB germs, but our immune system prevents them from spreading. The infection, however, is still present and might become active at some point. Your doctor will prescribe drugs to stop active TB if you have HIV, have had an infection within the last two years, have an atypical chest X-ray, are immune compromised, or are otherwise at high risk for reactivation.
Active TB: You get sick as a result of the bacteria spreading. The sickness can be transmitted to other people. Adults who have latent TB infections account for 90% of all active cases.
A TB infection, whether latent or active, may also be drug-resistant, meaning that some medicines do not effectively treat the bacterial infection. Drug resistance, which prevents some drugs from treating latent or active TB, is another possibility.
Based on the organs affected, TB can also be categorized in the following ways:
- If the bacteria damages the lungs, it causes pulmonary tuberculosis.
- If it infects the bladder the bacteria may result in bladder tuberculosis.
- Similar to how it might affect the spine, it can cause Pott's disease or Potts' spine, which is TB of the spine.
- The skin, brain, and even the heart are all susceptible to the damage caused by TB.
What Causes Tuberculosis?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a rod-shaped bacteria, is the main cause of tuberculosis, also known as TB.
These bacteria require oxygen to grow, so they thrive in environments with plenty of both oxygen and nutrition. Since the germs grow slowly, it may take some time before symptoms appear.
Signs and symptoms of tuberculosis
Latent TB does not exhibit any signs. It can be detected with a skin or blood test.
Active TB symptoms are:
- Coughing more than three weeks
- Chest ache
- Coughing up blood
- Chronic fatigue
- Insomnia
- Chills
- Fever
- Appetite loss
- Losing weight
If you see any of these symptoms, see a doctor right once. Immediately seek medical attention if you experience chest pain.
Testing and Diagnosing for Tuberculosis
For tuberculosis, two common tests exist:
Skin test: Alternatively called the Mantoux tuberculin skin test. Your lower arm's skin is treated with a fluid injection by a professional. They'll check to see if your arm has swollen after two or three days. Your likely infection with TB germs is if your test results are positive, but, a false positive is always a possibility. When you actually don't have tuberculosis, a test could indicate that you do if you've received the BCG vaccine for the disease. If you have a fresh infection, the findings could also be falsely negative, indicating that you don't have TB when in fact you have. This examination may be administered more than once.
Blood test: The blood test also known as interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), gauge how your body reacts when TB proteins are combined with a tiny amount of blood.
CT scan or X-ray test: CT scan or X-ray of the chest to check for alterations in the lungs.
Acid-fast bacillus test: Your sputum, or the mucus that arises when you cough, is tested for TB germs using acid-fast bacillus (AFB) test.
Also Read: Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
Treating Tuberculosis
Your therapy will depend on the nature of your infection.
Latent TB treatment: Your doctor will prescribe medicine if you have latent TB in order to eradicate the bacteria and prevent the infection from becoming active. You could receive isoniazid, rifapentine, or rifampin separately or in combination. The required duration of the medication is up to nine months. Call your doctor as soon as you notice any symptoms of active TB.
Active TB treatment: Active TB is also treated using a mix of medications. Ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampin are the most widely used. You'll have to consume them for the next 6-12 months.
Even when you feel better, it's crucial to finish taking all of your prescriptions, regardless of the type of illness you have. The bacteria may develop antibiotic resistance if you stop using the medication too soon.
India has a severe problem with tuberculosis. It can occasionally be challenging to diagnose and exhibit a variety of symptoms. However, once a diagnosis has been made, treatment is usually simple and patients can get completely cured.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
