World Tuberculosis Day 2022: Invest to end Tuberculosis, save lives - World Health Organisation

 

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Every year we celebrate the 24th of March as World TB (Tuberculosis) Day globally to spread awareness into the masses about the devastating  health impact of tuberculosis  and its  financial and societal consequences around the world.

By raising the understanding of the disease can help those who are in high danger and seeking treatment. If the individuals who are at risk are vaccinated properly, the disease might be cured, and tuberculosis could be eliminated.

WHO call for investment to end TB; save lives

On World TB Day, WHO is highlighting the urgent need for national, international and global stakeholders to invest at least US$ 3 billion annually in the South-East Asia Region to avert nearly 4.5 million new TB cases and prevent more than 1.5 million TB deaths by 2025. Globally, TB kills more than 4100 people every day. It makes close to 28,000 sick.

For the first time in over a decade, TB deaths increased in 2020. Ongoing conflicts across Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East have further exacerbated the situation for vulnerable populations. Although 66 million lives have been saved since 2000, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed those gains.

Global spending on TB diagnostics, treatments and prevention in 2020 were less than half of the global target of $13 billion annually by 2022. For research and development, an extra $ 1.1 billion per year is needed.

In all countries of the Region, social and economic support for TB patients must be enhanced, better integrated into social protection services, and delineated into measures that are TB-specific, TB-inclusive and TB-sensitive. 

Updated guidelines for the management of TB in children and adolescents released by WHO  highlight new patient-centred recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

The most recent recommendations are diagnostic testing has expanded to include non-invasive specimens, such as stools; rapid molecular diagnostics are recommended as the initial test for TB diagnosis for children and adolescents; and two of the newest TB medicines to treat drug resistant TB (bedaquiline and delamanid) are now recommended for use in children of all ages, making it possible for children with drug-resistant TB to receive all-oral treatment regimens regardless of their age.

The World Health Organization  has also  called for an urgent investment of resources, support, care and information into the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and to save lives and secure a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

TB kills more than 4100 people every day

What is Tuberculosis,

Tuberculosis is a droplet infection, caused by unique bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis,  low immunity or HIV. It not only affects the patient's lungs, but it can also affect the brain, kidney and spine. There are two types of TB- Pulmonary TB and Extrapulmonary TB.

The most common symptoms of TB are continuous coughing that lasts for at least 3 weeks is the major symptom of Tuberculosis, chest pain, fatigue, unintentional weight loss, fever, chills, weight loss and loss of appetite. TB can also cause abdominal pain, joint pain, seizures and persistent headache.

This infectious disease affects the lungs and spreads when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

Treatment

Tuberculosis is curable if detected early. The strain of TB is also important when treating the disease. Treatment for latent TB involves taking antitubercular medications. However, in the case of active TB, the affected ones may be recommended to take several drugs for a duration of almost nine months,  the treatment becomes more complicated for patients with the drug-resistant strain of TB.

Preventions

Good immunity, healthy diet, regular exercising, adequate rest, and sugar control can prevent people with TB.

 Theme of World Tuberculosis Day, 2022

This year, World Tuberculosis Day 2022, the theme of World Tuberculosis Day is “invest to End TB. Save Lives.”  The theme focuses on the need for investments and resources that are required to eradicate this disease. It's a way of conveying these needs to global leaders to reinforce their commitment to fighting this disease. The theme also ensures access to prevention and care of TB in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage by WHO.

Things to Know About Tuberculosis

- Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that kills 1.5 million people every year.

- TB is the 13th leading cause of death after COVID-19 (above HIV/AIDS).

- TB is present in all countries and age groups.

- Cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss are the symptoms of TB.

- About one-quarter of the world's population is infected with TB bacteria but is not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit it.

- Nearly 66 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2020.

- People infected with TB bacteria have a 5% to 10% lifetime risk of falling ill with TB.

- Alcohol use and smoking increase the risk of TB by a factor of 3.3 and 1.6, respectively.

- People who are infected with HIV are 18 times more likely to develop active TB.

- In 2020, there were 1.9 million new TB cases that were attributable to undernutrition.

- Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

-TB is a contagious infection that usually affects lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body such as brain and spine. It is an air borne disease. When a person inhales air particles, droplet nuclei, containing Mycobacterium Tubeculosis, it infects the person. It is curable but the medications need to be taken for a long period of time, usually 6 to 9 months.

-There are 2 types of TB

-Latent TB – The person neither shows any symptoms nor is he contagious. But there are chances that the bacteria will become active.

-Active TB – The person is contagious and can spread the disease by coughing or sneezing.

References:

World TB Day - (https://stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day/)

Tuberculosis (TB) - (https://www.cdc.gov/tb/worldtbday/default.htm)

World Tuberculosis Day 2022 - (https://www.paho.org/en/campaigns/world-tuberculosis-day-2022)