Latest news with #TB-related
The Print
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Print
Bringing dramatic drop in TB deaths, how TN set an example for rest of India with one-of-a-kind model
While TB-related death simply refers to a death among a person with TB within 12 months of notification (diagnosis), early TB death refers to deaths that happen within two months, often within the first few weeks of the notification. It is estimated that around 70 percent of TB deaths in the state are early TB deaths. An analysis by the agencies implementing the Tamil Nadu Kasanoi Erappila Thittam (TN-KET, which means TB death-free project) has shown that within six months of the launch of the initiative in April 2022, overall TB-related deaths have come down by nearly 10 percent while early TB fatalities reduced by nearly 20 percent. Chennai: A first-of-its-kind statewide differentiated tuberculosis (TB) care initiative in Tamil Nadu has significantly brought down TB deaths in the state, prompting researchers to pitch it as a model that can be replicated across the country. These results from TN-KET hold significance for India which continues to report the highest burden of TB and TB-related mortalities globally despite making significant strides in curbing the burden of the bacterial disease over the last several years. India is considered a TB endemic country, a highly infectious disease caused by a bacteria called Bacillus Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, which is spread when people who are sick with TB expel the pathogen into the air, mostly by coughing. Spearheaded by the Tamil Nadu State TB Cell and Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), the TN-KET initiative involves triaging (preliminary assessment) adults with TB at diagnosis, and those identified as severely ill based on specified indicators are prioritised immediately for referral, comprehensive assessment, and inpatient care. 'The key aim is to gauge or predict the patients who are likely to die due to the infectious disease while first identifying the disease in them and immediately offer them hospitalised care to treat the severe symptoms they have,' said ICMR-NIE director Dr Manoj Murhekar. The initiative, also supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) India and the ICMR National Institute for Research in TB (ICMR-NIRT), has been implemented in all 38 districts of Tamil Nadu, except for Chennai. 'This initiative has shown that it is possible to bring down TB-related deaths remarkably by following some scientifically designed tools and methods. Severe illness can be quickly identified through triaging and they can be promptly admitted after diagnosis,' Dr Hemant Deepak Shewade, a senior medical scientist with ICMR-NIE who is associated with the initiative, told ThePrint. While the impact of the project in the first year has been analysed, the analysis of the second year (2023-24) is still underway but the early indications from routine monitoring of TN-KET suggest that it is even better than the previous results, Shewade said. 'We feel that scaling the model across India will be beneficial in bringing down the number of people dying every year due to the disease,' he added. The senior scientist, however, cautioned that such an initiative could only bring down TB-related deaths by up to 30 percent, and measures like detecting all TB incidents, early detection, comorbidity management, universal health coverage, among others, were crucial to further reduce TB deaths in the country. Dr Asha Frederick, Tamil Nadu's State TB Officer, said that district TB officers and Nodal physicians have played a key role in the implementation of the initiative. 'We recommend that these triage variables are captured elsewhere including other Indian states and high TB burden countries to guide patient management,' Dr Frederick said. On the future plans for the TN-KET, the state has started identifying other severe comorbidities like uncontrolled Diabetes (requiring insulin) among people with TB. 'If this goes well, we plan to cover other severe comorbidities like severe addiction to alcohol and tobacco,' Frederick added. According to the World TB report 2024 by the WHO, there were an estimated 28 lakh incident people with TB in 2023, 26 percent of global TB burden. Also, the country had an estimated 3.1 lakh TB deaths that year which was 29 percent of all TB mortalities globally. Tamil Nadu is among the states with high TB burden in the country. Also Read: Lancet report highlights gaps in immunisation—no routine vaccine for 14.4 lakh Indian kids in 2023 How the strategy works As part of the project, health workers triage every new TB-diagnosed adult (all above 15 years) for very severe undernutrition, respiratory distress or poor physical condition on five variables—body mass index (BMI), pedal oedema (swelling of feet and ankles), respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and ability to stand without support. This is carried out as a health system initiative in routine operational settings by existing health workforce. Whether or not a patient is severely ill is confirmed by entering the details into a software application TB SeWA (Severe TB Web Application). All those identified as severely ill are then prioritised for in-patient care by nodal physicians in nodal inpatient care facilities of the districts, using TN-KET case record form and in-patient care guides specifically developed for such patients. A study published on the early implementation of the project and its feasibility underlined that 80-90 percent of severely ill patients (as per triage tool) are getting detected and admitted within one day of diagnosis. The admission of severely ill patients (triage-positive) has improved over the years: 67 percent in 2022, 86 percent in 2023 and 91 percent in 2024. The median admission duration was five days in 2022 and this has improved to seven days in 2023 and 2024. Over the years, the focus has been to ensure quality comprehensive assessment and inpatient care during the admission of the severely ill patients with focus on therapeutic nutrition for very severely undernourished patients as half of those eligible for admission have very severe undernutrition. Between April 2022 and June 2023, as per details shared by ICMR-NIE scientists, 66,765 of 72,404 notified adults were triaged, and 7,950 were triage-positive (identified as severely sick due to TB). Among these, 5,870 (or 74 percent) patents were referred and admitted. The analysis later showed 21 percent decline in early TB death rate and 11 percent reduction in overall TB death rate during treatment. By improving the admission among triage-positive patients, there is scope to further reduce TB death rate, the researchers noted, adding that once the goal of 30 percent mortality rate reduction among notified TB patients using this strategy is achieved, they will consider adding follow up triaging for all patients at two months for further reduction in mortality rate. As per the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), India has to eliminate TB by 2030. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: COVID-19 vaccines linked to cardiac-related deaths? Siddaramaiah, Biocon founder Shaw spar on X
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Puducherry becomes first one to include screening for TB patients under initiative of Family Adoption Programme
Puducherry has become the first state to include screening for tuberculosis (TB) patients under the initiative of 'Family Adoption Program' where medical students adopt families as part of their community outreach. When medical students adopt a family, they also screen all members of the family for TB. If any member of the adopted family is found to have symptoms of TB, the students assist with both diagnosis and treatment, said Kavita Vasudevan, Head of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Puducherry, speaking to The Hindu. The National Medical Commission had previously made it mandatory for medical students to adopt 3 to 5 families and follow up with them for three years. Dr. Vasudevan added that to identify the reasons for TB-related deaths, Puducherry has now adopted an initiative of Verbal Autopsy. 'Using this method, doctors at IGMC, Puducherry, are investigating the causes behind deaths due to tuberculosis and identify both patient-related and health system related factors,' she added. She further explained that verbal autopsies are being conducted for 160 cases. 'The findings reveal that the patients present late to the health facilities, and the highest number of deaths occurs after 14 days of diagnosis emphasising the need for multipronged strategies to ensure early health care seeking behaviours,' she added. Puducherry's nine medical colleges are now working as pillars in the UT's TB elimination fight, contributing to 45% of TB notifications and actively participating in Active Case Finding (ACF) drives. Senior UT health official added that the medical colleges are supporting in terms of diagnostic facilities, have ear marked beds for TB patients, conduct IEC activities, and provide support at the community level. These institutions are working with the State TB Cell to identify vulnerable populations and map them as moderate or high risk. The mapped individuals are tested using highly sensitive tests – AI-enabled Handheld chest X-rays and NAAT – molecular diagnostics. People with co-morbidities and other vulnerabilities that predispose them to the disease, are identified in the database and are followed up with in the future case finding drives as well, added officials. The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) is being implemented in Puducherry UT from 20th February 2004 under Department of Health & Family Welfare Services and National Health Mission. Puducherry UT has only one NTEP district covering a population of 13.92 lakhs. It has 7 TB units, 28 TB Diagnostic Centres, and an Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) at the Government Hospital for Chest Diseases with culture and drug susceptibility testing facility for diagnosing TB.
India Today
30-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Ministry of Health: Know TB symptoms, get tested without delay
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of India's major public health challenges, despite being a preventable and curable disease. The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other parts of the body. Early detection is key to successful treatment and preventing the spread of the collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, here's a breakdown of key symptoms to watch out for and why early medical intervention cough for more than two weeks A chronic cough that doesn't improve over two weeks is a classic sign of TB. It may start dry and later produce phlegm. In some cases, it can lead to severe chest and unexplained weight lossOne of the hallmark symptoms of TB is sudden weight loss without any lifestyle or dietary changes. The body's metabolism speeds up as it fights the infection, leading to noticeable weight in sputum (Hemoptysis)Coughing up blood or blood-tinged sputum is a serious symptom and should not be ignored. It suggests the infection is affecting the lungs more pain or discomfortPain in the chest while breathing or coughing may occur, often due to inflammation in the lung linings. This symptom requires immediate evaluation, especially when paired with coughing and breathlessness. advertisement Recent physical changesTB can sometimes bring about visible and internal physical changes, such as fatigue, skin pallor, or altered breathing patterns. These signs may seem subtle, but are important to feversA fever that spikes in the evening is a telltale symptom of TB. Unlike typical viral fevers, TB-related fevers are often low-grade but sweatsExcessive sweating during the night, even in cooler weather or air-conditioned environments, can be a symptom of TB. These episodes may soak clothing or bed and weaknessGeneral tiredness, even without exertion, is another red flag. Many TB patients report feeling weak or unable to carry out everyday or lumps in the bodyTB can also affect lymph nodes or other organs, causing painless swellings or lumps. These can appear in the neck, underarms, or groin and should be checked by a or chronic illnessThose already dealing with other health issues or a compromised immune system are at a higher risk of TB. People living with HIV/AIDS, diabetes, or malnutrition are particularly is curable with timely and complete treatment, usually involving a 6-month course of antibiotics. Early detection is crucial to breaking the chain of transmission. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, visit a health facility and get Watch
