Tuberculosis (TB)
2021 SEP 3
Preliminary >
Social Justice > Health > Health
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