Although TB wards have disappeared from hospitals with the advent of modern medical facilities, tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health problem. Caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, this disease primarily affects the lungs and spreads to other parts. TB is a preventable and curable disease. 

The latest statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) state that 10.6 million people were infected with tuberculosis, of which 1.3 million succumbed to the disease in 2022. These figures also indicate that TB is emerging as the second-biggest infectious disease after COVID-19. 

According to estimates, since 2000, 75 million TB patients have been provided treatment. The rise of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), which poses a challenge to treatment, is of concern. According to estimates for 2022, only 40 per cent of MDR-TB patients have received proper treatment.

The statistics also show that more than twice as many people died from tuberculosis as those who died from HIV/AIDS. This year, WHO is celebrating World TB Day with the theme ‘Yes! We can end TB!’ 

Symptoms of TB include a cough that lasts for more than two weeks, a cough with phlegm or blood, chills, fever, chest pain, and weakness. The most comforting aspect of TB is the availability of effective treatment. The standard course for tuberculosis is a course of antibiotics taken for six months. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to curing and preventing the spread of TB. Short-term antibiotics are provided for latent TB infections where the person carries the bacteria but is not affected.

Fighting tuberculosis requires a multifaceted approach. Tuberculosis can only be eradicated by focusing on public health issues, early detection of these problems, preventive measures, and the development of new diagnostic methods and vaccines. 

Even with the availability of treatment, the number of patients receiving effective treatment is still low. It is important to step up and organise necessary activities to raise awareness and to invest in research and development.

(The writer is a consultant pulmonologist at Thalassery Mission Hospital.)