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World Tuberculosis Day

by Medindia Content Team on 
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Protective Protein Could Hold The Key In Fight Against Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis remains one of the public health challenges of the 21st century in developing countries. Although most Americans feel that TB is a disease of the past, TB claims a valuable human life, every six seconds, worldwide. Nearly one-third of the population is infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative organism. India deserves the credit of housing the maximum number of TB patients and has the highest record of TB-related deaths.Although we now know the cause of the disease, what drugs to give, which is the best drug regimen, the emergence of drug resistant strains of the bacteria and co infection with HIV/AIDS pose a significant problem in combating the AIDS epidemic, particularly in India and Africa.
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Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory disease is a common term given to a group of diseases that affect the respiratory system. It is caused by both bacteria and virus and affects the entire respiratory system starting from the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs. It includes diseases such as Adult (Acute) Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), asthma, pneumonitis, bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, Tracheobronchomegaly etc. Respiratory diseases can be prevented by avoiding smoking, staying away from pollutants and irritants, washing the hands often to avoid infection, and getting regular medical checkups.
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AIDS And Tuberculosis

TB is an HIV related opportunistic infection. One in three HIV-infected people worldwide are co-infected with the TB bacterium. HIV/AIDS and TB form a lethal combination and is called as the devastating pair. In today's scenario with nearly 3 million co-infected with HIV and TB, TB is the leading cause of mortality among those with HIV infection. HIV infection converts latent TB into active transmissible TB and TB bacteria accelerates the progression of AIDS in the patient. Various attempts are being made to improve collaboration between TB and HIV programmes. Hence it is made compulsory that everyone diagnosed with TB should be tested for HIV and vice-versa. Another important step to tackle this twin problem is that the health system should offer HIV positive people the simple solution of DOTS.
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DOTS Treatment For Tuberculosis

Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) is an internationally recommended TB control strategy. The DOTS program is very efficient and 97% cure rate can be achieved in tuberculosis. India has the second largest DOTS programme in the world. India's DOTS programme is the fastest expanding programmes in which more than 100, 000 patients being put on treatment, every month. It is cost effective, prevents new infection and stops resistance to Anti-TB drugs. DOTS services are available in the rural health units, city health centers and government hospitals around the country. In Georgia about 3000 prison inmates are undergoing treatment under the DOTS program.
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Multi Drug Resistance TB (MDR-TB)

One of the main challenges in successful treatment of TB is encouraging patients to strictly adhere to the complete course of treatment, without interruption. When the patients do not stick to their drug regime, the TB bacterium learns to outwit the TB antibiotics, making the drugs ineffective, eventually leading to resistant TB infection. When the bacterium becomes resistant to two or more drugs and is called multi drug-resistant TB or MDR-TB. The development of drug resistant strains of the bacterium and MDR-TB adds concern about effective treatment as this form of TB is much more difficult to cure. The disadvantage of this treatment is that the drugs used produce serious side effects.
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