Latest news with #NTEP
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Prolonged use of ethambutol leads to vision loss in TB patients, says study by doctors of LV Prasad Eye Institute
Hyderabad: A recent study conducted by the doctors at the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) raised concerns about severe vision loss caused by ethambutol, a drug commonly used to treat tuberculosis (TB). Published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, the study reveals that prolonged use of ethambutol, which is used as part of India's TB treatment programme due to its relatively low toxicity, combined with higher dosages, is linked to a sharp rise in cases of ethambutol-induced toxic optic neuropathy (ETON). It is a condition that damages the optic nerve and impacts vision. The study also pointed out that the Central govt's National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), which is implemented across the country, including in Telangana, uses ethambutol extensively. In 2016, the NTEP extended the use of ethambutol from two to six months and also increased the dosage frequency to once daily from thrice a week. Since then, the ETON cases increased sixfold within three years. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad During the research, the LVPEI doctors examined 107 patients suffering from ETON, with around 58% of them being middle-aged (36 to 55 years), who took the drug for seven consecutive months. Doctors found that almost all of the patients experienced severe vision loss in both eyes, with the elderly (above 60 years) being the worst affected, despite the low toxicity levels of the drug. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your IQ Is 140 If You Can Answer 10 of These Questions Correctly. IQ International Undo However, after they discontinued ethambutol, an 11-month follow-up found that the vision clarity of the patients started improving, except for the elderly. 'ETON has become more common and can lead to severe vision loss, especially in the elderly, individuals with low body weight, and those with kidney problems (renal dysfunction). Symptomps include change in vision, contrast or colour vision. There are smartphone-based apps which the patients can use to check vision and colour vision at home. Dosage should be recommended as per body weight, age and kidney function. Careful monitoring and early discontinuation of the drug are essential to prevent vision loss,' said Dr Virender Sachdeva, one of the authors. In March this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) pointed out that while India showed significant progress in reducing TB cases and improved treatment coverage, it is unlikely to meet the 2025 target set by the WHO's 'End TB Strategy'. WHO's Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 stated that India had 26% of global TB cases and 26% of global deaths in 2023, the highest in the world. According to officials in the Telangana health, family, and welfare dept, currently around 81 lakh people of the over 3.5 crore population (20%) in Telangana are TB-prone, with 10 lakh alone in Hyderabad. Official numbers tabled in Parliament showed that Telangana recorded 1.37 lakh TB cases and 2,663 deaths from July 2023 to Dec 2024. Noting that the findings of the study will be reviewed, senior officials of the TB programme, health dept, said, 'After completing the 100-day action plan, we again launched a continuous plan in June this year to boost TB screening, awareness, and care in Hyderabad, rural areas, and urban slums. Special emphasis is being given to people above 60 years, those who drink and smoke, previous TB patients, family members of the present TB patients, and people with comorbidities. '
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Maharashtra boosts support for TB control through private sector partnership
The Maharashtra government has stepped up its support for patient provider support agencies (PPSA) to help find and treat more tuberculosis patients as part of the national strategy to eliminate the disease. PPSA is a model where a non-governmental organisation/third-party agency is selected by the state/city/district unit of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) to engage private-sector doctors. The agencies engage with private practitioners to ensure delivery of standardised TB care services. This effort has been successful in improving TB case detection and treatment outcomes, according to officials. 'Engaging the private sector is a vital element of the NTEP. To support this effort, the state has extended its support to more PPSAs. In the last six months (January till June), over half of the 1.13 lakh new TB cases have been reported from the private sector,' Dr Sandeep Sangale, joint director (TB and leprosy), Maharashtra, told The Indian Express. Dr Sangale explained that these agencies serve as a bridge between the state/district NTEP and the private healthcare sector and ensure that patients in private care have access to NTEP-supported services. Currently, PPSA is functional in 80 NTEP districts through seven agencies: Maharashtra Janvikas Kendra (MJK), ALERT India, Doctors for You (DFY), Gurukrupa Vikas Sanstha, DISHA foundation, Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT) and Network of Maharashtra by People living with AIDS/HIV (NMP+). Study shows evidence for public-private partnerships in TB elimination Given that nearly half of TB patients seek care from private providers, a new study shows well-funded public-private partnerships are no longer an option but essential for TB elimination goals. Published in the Indian Journal of Tuberculosis, the study provides compelling evidence for the effectiveness of this model based on a decade-long analysis of Maharashtra's TB programme (2011-2020). The study, published by researchers Ajith Ramalingam, Ranjit Mankeshwar, and Geeta Pardeshi, demonstrates how the effective utilisation of the National Health Mission (NHM) has directly improved TB outcomes in Maharashtra. The findings demonstrate that higher utilisation of funds—particularly in key operational areas such as supervision, public–private partnerships, and contractual services—is strongly associated with improved TB outcome indicators, increased case notification, treatment success rates and reduced case fatality rates. 'The analysis of NHM funds for the NTEP in Maharashtra from 2011 to 2020 revealed a consistent increase in both the allocation and utilisation of funds over the decade, with significant peaks observed in 2019 and 2020,' researchers said. In Maharashtra, the programme achieved its strongest outcomes when public-private partnerships were well-funded, with public–private mix (PPM) components showing a high median utilisation of 85.25 per cent, among the best across all programme areas. Central to this success was the PPSA model, backed by steadily rising contractual services funding over the decade, they added. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Target is to stop spread': Screening camps at Delhi's urban slums strengthen fight against TB
Sheela Devi (48), a resident of Indira Kalyan Vihar, a jhuggi jhopri cluster in Southeast Delhi's Okhla Industrial Area Phase-1, stepped out to buy vegetables when Subhash, the village head or pradhan as they call him, asked her to visit the TB screening camp operating from his office. The screening was long overdue, she thought to herself. She has been suffering from fever for the last few months and coughs excessively. 'There is a persistent cough and fever which doesn't fade away,' she added. Her X-ray showed abnormalities and cavities in her lungs. 'Now, we will send her to the Nehru Nagar centre where her sputum samples will be collected for further evaluation,' explained District TB officer Dr Umesh Kumar. The village head has lent his office space for a screening camp under the Delhi government's TB programme for free for a month. A team of doctors, under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), are screening patients with the help of a handheld X-Ray machine and AI software, which identifies abnormalities in the lungs and is said to have minimal radiation exposure. According to the 2019-2021 National TB Prevalence Survey, Delhi was identified as having the highest TB prevalence in India, with 747 cases per lakh population. Under the NTEP, Delhi has been conducting screening drives in urban slums and has started the first phase of the programme targeting six high-burden areas — Nehru Nagar, Narela, Karawal Nagar, Moti Nagar, Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital's chest clinic and Shastri Nagar. In Nehru Nagar, five areas have been targeted — Indira Kalyan Vihar, Jaitpur, Pul Prahladpur, Nizamuddin and Batla House. To drive engagement, doctors and volunteers also conduct door-to-door drives, and announcements are made on loudspeakers as well. Five X-ray machines have been set up in each camp in the slums of South Delhi. 'The programme has been functioning since last December, and we started again in June this year. Our target is to stop the spread of TB, and we need to do catchment at the mass level. Except pregnant women and children below 15 years, everyone else is being screened,' Dr Umesh explained. Since June, more than 10,000 people have been screened, and around 40 people have been identified as TB affected at such camps across the city, said sources. Along with the mass-level screening, these camps provide prevention therapy to people who are at high risk — they collect the medicines from the nearby DOT centre, a healthcare facility focused on tuberculosis. 'Before prescribing medicines under TB prevention therapy, we confirm about latent TB infection by the Cy-Tb test, a modern skin test for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, a bacterium that causes tuberculosis. If it is positive in TB contact persons, we give them the preventive therapy,' underlined Dr Umesh Kumar. For this, the doctors deployed are particularly targeting the high-risk group, which includes patients with diabetes, those with alcohol or cigarette addiction, those who are not gaining weight and those who are living in families where someone had TB in the last five years. The camp at Indira Kalyan Vihar Jhuggi has been conducting 150-200 X-rays daily at the centre. Even as 5-10% of X-rays highlight abnormalities on average every day, not all of these patients test positive for TB. 'The X-rays highlight if there is fluid in the lungs, signs of pneumonia, old or new pneumonia and cavities in the lungs. If these abnormalities are found, we send the patient for further tests,' said Dr Umesh. With the X-ray machines, screening takes just 5-10 minutes, and the visitors can get details added to the system, which is convenient for many. One doctor, one technician and one patient mobiliser and a volunteer for registration of people have been deployed at each camp. Meanwhile, more women than men are visiting the camp at Indira Kalyan Vihar, according to the team. 'This may be because most of the women are at home, and the men of the house go to work. Which is why we are taking this till 4 pm to target the men as well,' said Himansh Parewa, junior field officer who has been mobilising people from the jhuggi cluster. 'We mobilise the community with the help of ANM and ASHA workers and TB health workers from the Dot centres,' he added. However, this does not mean more women are testing positive. 'Diabetics, malnourished smokers, those with a family history of TB have the highest prevalence, along with those who are living in poorly ventilated areas, which makes slum areas more at risk,' explained Dr Umesh. A majority of men in the area, according to Himansh, are factory workers who have to leave for work early morning, due to which it remains a challenge to screen them.
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Cy-TB test introduced by Kerala govt. for detecting and treating tuberculosis
The State health authorities in Kerala have introduced a new intradermal test called Cy-TB for detecting and treating tuberculosis (TB) infection following the prioritisation of latent TB infection treatment under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). TB infection is different from active TB disease. A person with TB infection harbours the organism causing TB infection (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) in the body, having probably acquired it through contact with someone with active disease. But the organism remains dormant or inactive in the body and the person neither has any TB symptoms nor is he contagious. However, if left untreated, 5-10% of them will progress to developing active TB disease when the body's immune system weakens, allowing the TB bacteria to flare up. This could happen within weeks of acquiring the infection or maybe years, depending on the immune system and other factors determining immune regulation. Study A community-based cross-sectional study among adults in Thiruvananthapuram district in 2023 had reported that roughly one-fifth of the adult population in the district – 20.5% of adults – have tuberculosis infection. The study, 'Prevalence of Tuberculosis Infection among Adults of Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala as Measured by Interferon Gamma Release Assay – A Cross-Sectional Study,' tested whole blood samples of 396 adults in Thiruvananthapuram for TB infection and found that the prevalence of TB infection increased with age, ranging from 11.5% in the 18-35 age group to 30.3% in the 58-years-plus age group. 'Our studies show that about 22% of the State's general population has acquired TB infection from the community. While they pose no immediate threat to the community, once they go into an immuno-compromised state, the bacteria will multiply and produce symptoms of active disease. Given the morbidity profile of Kerala – high prevalence of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heavy alcohol use and a huge population on dialysis – it is important that we identify and treat these people to reduce the future burden of TB,' says Aparna Mohan, Government of India-WHO consultant for TB. Cy-TB is a third generation test approved by the Central TB Division. Blood test detection Since 2021, Kerala has been using the blood test Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) for detecting TB infection. However, this test required extensive laboratory support and it had a waiting period too. There were also systemic difficulties in rolling it out. Cy-TB is a highly specific, accurate and user-friendly skin test, wherein 0.1 ml dose of M. tuberculosis-specific antigens (ESAT-6 and CFP-10) are injected into the skin in the inner forearm. An induration (a raised area) of 5 mm or more which develops on the skin within 48-72 hours indicates TB infection (While a trained nurse can administer the injection, the person will have to return to the health centre for checking out the skin reaction.) If tested positive, active TB has to be ruled out before considering TB preventive therapy. TB preventive therapy is optional and not currently recommended for all those who are infected. Only high risk individuals recommended for preventive therapy under the NTEP alone need to take preventive therapy. Risk groups In Kerala, the identified risk groups include individuals on immunosuppressive therapy, those with silicosis (lung disease following the inhalation of silica dust), those on anti-TNF treatment, and those on dialysis and awaiting organ transplantation. Preventive therapy is also offered to health-care workers who test positive in the Cy-TB test. The preventive therapy is a short regimen with less number of drugs. This could be three-month weekly Isoniazid and Rifapentine (3HP) or six-months daily Isoniazid (6H). According to the State TB Division, Cy-TB will be offered in district TB centres, taluk hospitals, at the block level in some districts and in all dialysis centres too. The Health department also intends to use Cy-TB to test inmates in old age homes where pulmonary TB has been reported. The test is currently available in major private hospitals too.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
TB screening finds 37 cases in urban slums
N ew Delhi: Delhi health department's ongoing community-based tuberculosis (TB) screening drive in urban slums has identified 37 cases from among 9,200 people screened so far. The initiative, which uses artificial intelligence (AI)-powered diagnostics, aims to facilitate early detection, interrupt transmission chains, and swiftly reduce TB prevalence in high-risk areas. The first phase of the programme targets six high-burden National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) districts — Nehru Nagar, Narela, Karawal Nagar, Moti Nagar, BJRM and Shastri Park. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The department has deployed 21 portable AI-powered X-ray units, supported by 21 radiographers, 21 field officers and 7 laboratory technicians. According to the India TB Prevalence Survey (2019–2021), Delhi has the highest TB burden in the country, with a prevalence of 747 cases per lakh of the population and an infection rate of 61% (range: 57–65%). The capital has launched an intensive, slum-focused TB screening campaign designed to identify undiagnosed cases and rapidly reduce community transmission. Officials said the campaign aims to screen 40 lakh people over three years, with a goal of reducing TB prevalence by 25% in the targeted districts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Camps have been set up in both public and private spaces to demonstrate handheld X-ray technologies. A hub-and-spoke model has been implemented to ensure timely sputum collection and transportation, with a focus on TB-HIV co-infection for integrated care. Support from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) strengthened the effort, with the provision of 10 PathoDetect molecular testing machines, 7 additional handheld X-ray units, and ongoing technical guidance, said officials. A comprehensive advocacy, social mobilisation, and communication strategy is being rolled out to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage active participation in slum clusters. The department has mapped over 600 slum localities across Delhi for coverage. The screening is prioritising high-risk groups such as people with diabetes, hypertension, compromised immunity, TB patient contacts, migrant labourers, the homeless, residents of JJ clusters and unauthorised colonies, and others living in densely populated areas.
