Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis Latest News

March 24 is observed as World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to raise awareness about TB and efforts to eliminate it.

Why in the News?

• The 2025 theme is “Yes, We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver.”
• The President of India commended the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) for its public awareness initiatives and significant reduction in TB cases over the past decade.
• India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, ahead of the global target of 2030 set by the WHO End TB Strategy.

About Tuberculosis (TB)

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other body parts such as the abdomen, glands, bones, and nervous system.
• It spreads through airborne transmission, mainly inhaling tiny droplets released from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.

Types of Tuberculosis

Symptoms of TB

• Persistent cough for more than 3 weeks, often with blood.
• Weight loss, night sweats, high fever, fatigue.
• Loss of appetite, chest pain, swollen lymph nodes.

Treatment & Prevention

• Curable with Antibiotics: Requires 6-18 months of medication.
• BCG Vaccine: The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine provides moderate protection, mainly for severe TB in infants and children.

Key Highlights of TB in India

• Declining TB Incidence: Tuberculosis incidence in India has dropped to below 200 per lakh (2022) from 237 per lakh (2015), marking a 16% decline.
• Reduction in TB Mortality: TB-related deaths have decreased by 18% since 2015, now at 23 per lakh population.
• Improved Treatment Success Rates:
  • Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) Treatment Success Rate: 74%.
  • Pre-Extensively Drug-Resistant TB (Pre-XDR-TB) Success Rate: 68%.
  • Extensively Drug-Resistant TB (XDR-TB) Success Rate:45%.
• State-Wise TB Performance Index:
  • Best Performing States: Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat.
  • Lowest Performing States: Punjab, Bihar, Karnataka.

Tuberculosis FAQs

Q1: What is tuberculosis (TB)?

Ans: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs, though it can impact other parts of the body.

Q2: How is TB transmitted?

Ans: TB spreads through the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, releasing bacteria into the air. People nearby can inhale these bacteria and become infected.

Q3: What is the difference between latent TB infection and active TB disease?

Ans: In latent TB infection, individuals carry the TB bacteria without symptoms and cannot transmit the disease. However, they have a 5–15% lifetime risk of developing active TB disease, where symptoms are present, and the disease can be contagious.

Source: TH