Cost-effective Tool to Diagnose Tuberculosis Soon To be Launched

The Indian Council for Medical Research announced a cost-effective diagnostic tool as good as GeneXpert test which is a popular test to detect TB.

This tool is developed by a Bengaluru-based company and is expected to be available in a year. The government of India is trying to eradicate tuberculosis after having made the nation polio-free.

Tuberculosis - Spread - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lung. It may spread to other organs.

‘Tuberculosis usually caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis affects the lungs and kills nearly half of those affected if untreated.’

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Approximately two-three million in India have tuberculosis, which is the largest in the world. The WHO also estimates that over two lakh people in India have died from TB in 2014 alone.

ICMR Director General Soumya Swaminathan also said that if the evaluation of the test shows a positive result, this test might even replace the GeneXpert test that gives results in a couple of hours with minimal technical time.

ICMR is currently focused on research to develop better and faster diagnostic tools and treatment strategies. Apart from tuberculosis, it is also working on developing vaccines for major infections like malaria and HIV. Swaminathan also said that the phase-1 trials for the malaria vaccine shall start soon after the necessary approvals have been obtained.

Screening Tests for Tuberculosis
Tuberculin skin test and Interferon – Release Assays are tests used to screen for tuberculosis.

Source-Medindia

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Patients with tuberculosis should eat a healthy diet so that they build up their immunity to fight against tuberculosis.

Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis - Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Risk factors, Treatment
Extra pulmonary tuberculosis is infection of tissues and organs other than the lungs by mycobacterium tuberculosis and related organisms.