Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis
•  Tuberculosis is an infectious airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 
•  It primarily affects the lungs, but it can also involve other organs such as the brain, lymph nodes, kidneys, bones, and joints. 
•  The disease spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 
•  Transmission usually requires close and prolonged contact, and TB does not spread through touch.
Symptoms of TB
•  Tuberculosis is characterized by a persistent cough lasting two weeks or more. 
•  Patients may experience persistent fever and night sweats. 
•  It can lead to coughing up blood or sputum. 
•  Other symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, and chest pain.
Global & Regional Burden
•  Experts highlight that the WHO South-East Asia region accounts for about 34% of global TB cases and nearly 40% of TB-related deaths. 
•  In 2024, an estimated 3.68 million people developed TB, and around 433,000 deaths were recorded in the region. 
•  The region has achieved a 23% reduction in TB deaths and a 16% decline in incidence since 2015, which is higher than the global average decline. 
•  Treatment coverage has expanded to over 85%, with more than 3.1 million people receiving treatment in 2024.
Challenges
•  Experts suggest that the region remains off track to meet global End TB targets. 
•  Drug-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) remains a major concern, with about 150,000 cases annually. 
•  Socio-economic factors such as undernutrition, diabetes, and HIV continue to increase vulnerability. 
•  Around 44% of TB-affected households face catastrophic health expenditures, highlighting economic burden.
Way Forward
•  Experts emphasize the need to accelerate reduction in TB incidence and deaths through integrated primary healthcare systems. 
•  There is a need to close detection and treatment gaps, especially for drug-resistant TB, using rapid diagnostics. 
•  Addressing social determinants such as nutrition, diabetes, and HIV is critical to reduce transmission. 
•  Adoption of new technologies such as AI can improve access to diagnosis and treatment.
Historical Background
•  Tuberculosis was discovered by Robert Koch in 1882, who identified the causative bacterium. 
•  The disease has existed for millions of years and was known by different names in history. 
•  It was referred to as: 
o  Phthisis in ancient Greek 
o  Tabes in Latin 
o  Scrofula during the Middle Ages 
o  White plague in the 1700s 
o  Consumption in the 1800s 
•  The term “tuberculosis” was coined in 1834, and the concept of latent TB infection was introduced in 1909.