Tuberculosis (TB)

Why in news?

• Over 65% of tuberculosis (TB) cases in India are found in the age group 15-45, which is the most economically productive segment of population.

About TB

• Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs.

Transmission:

• TB is spread from person to person through the air.

Risk of infection:

• People infected with TB bacteria have a 5–15% lifetime risk of falling ill with TB.
• However, persons with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV have a much higher risk of falling ill.

Drug resistance:

• Drug resistance emerges when anti-TB medicines are used inappropriately, through incorrect prescription by health care providers, poor quality drugs, and patients stopping treatment prematurely.
• Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs.
• MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs.

Vaccination:

• Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine for TB.

Add ons:

• ‘End TB Strategy’, adopted by the WHO is a blueprint for countries to end the TB epidemic.
• Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is among the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• DOTS (Directly observed treatment, short course) is the name given to the tuberculosis control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements:

1. Tuberculosis (TB) is a viral disease that affect the lungs

2. It is spread from person to person through the air.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer