The number of tuberculosis cases has considerably decreased in 2023 in comparison to 2022. From 2.42 million in 2022 with the highest number of TB cases in the world with 27% of the global burden, the cases have significantly dropped to 2.23 million in 2023 says WHO.
Chandigarh to register highest Tuberculosis cases in 2023
Chandigarh is the city with the highest number of cases registered for Tuberculosis. According to reports, 475 cases per 1,00,000 people are registered for TB in Chandigarh in the year 2023.As the city has earned this unwanted position of highest no. of Tuberculosis cases, the health ministry has taken some mandatory steps for the Tuberculosis and respiratory department in GMCH( Government Medical College and Hospital) in Sector 32, Chandigarh. The proactive measures are to ensure that the No. of cases decline with time. A new MD programme for TBRD ( tuberculosis and respiratory diseases), will begin from the next session says GMCH.
With the prominent cases, Dr. Nikhil Modi, senior consultant of respiratory and critical care services, at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said there are several interconnected reasons for the spread. A few key reasons are Malnutrition and the increasing population in India. Another major burden is the condition of undiagnosed cases of Tuberculosis in their early stages. In 2 week drive, The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) registered around 136 TB and 78 leprosy cases in the early week of December 2023.
Tuberculosis: Causes and symptoms
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis causing the growth of nodules in the tissues, especially lungs. TB can spread if an infected person coughs or sneezes as tiny drops of water are released into the air by the patient. There are 3 different stages of tuberculosis.
In the primary stage, common symptoms are low fever, cough, and lethargy. In the Latent TB stage, there are usually no symptoms as the immune system of the body builds a protective wall around the lungs to cease the TB germs. In the Active stage, when the Immune system fails to protect and fight against the infection, the symptoms get severe with heavy breathing, chest pain, coughing with blood, fever, weight loss, and fatigue. People with AIDS/HIV have weaker Immune systems and are prone to diseases like tuberculosis. Therefore, early diagnosis is very essential so that further spread is prevented and the patients do not reach a fatal stage.
Government Measures to provide aid
TRBD Department in Sector 48 is set to expand its services by three weekly setups in OPD and two in GMCH in Sector 32. The increase in the staff members of the medical team can improve the efficiency of operational activities. The government schemes like Nikshan Poshan Yojana help to provide financial aid to TB patients.
However, this scheme did not benefit many of the patients as only 1.4 million patients were given beneficiary aid of 500 rupees every month, which is a lot less in comparison to 1.94 million beneficiaries in 2022 and 1.7 million in 2021 in the country. Till November 2023, NTEP (National Tuberculosis Elimination Program) has distributed Rs.2617.44 crores to 95.93 Lakh TB patients. The Government is trying to improve the conditions by taking pivotal steps to eradicate the problem of TB by the end of 2025.
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