Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious health problem reported worldwide. This infection is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Bacteria usually attack the lungs, apart from this its side effects can also be seen on the kidneys, spine, and brain. TB is primarily a disease of the lungs, with symptoms including breathing problems and other lung problems. Health experts say TB can happen to a person of any age, so it is necessary to know about its risks and take measures to prevent it.
World TB Day is celebrated every year on 24th March to increase awareness among people about TB disease across the world and educate people about its prevention. In the case of TB, the main problems are cough (coughing up blood), weight loss, night sweats, fever, chest pain, and fatigue. However, in a recent study, researchers have alerted about major changes in the symptoms of TB.
Studies show that more than 80% of TB patients no longer suffer from persistent cough.
These main symptoms are not seen in TB patients
According to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, about 80 percent of the people who were suffering from TB in Asia and Africa reported that they did not complain of persistent cough. This symptom, which is considered the most important symptom of TB, has not been seen in the patients till now.
The study, conducted by a team of scientists to determine the prevalence of subclinical pulmonary TB, found that the majority of TB patients in high-burden countries in Asia and Africa did not have a persistent cough, while more than 60% had no cough at all. Not only this, more than a quarter of the people did not have any other symptoms associated with the disease.
TB cases even without cough
Scientists say it is very important to pay attention to the problem of persistent cough in TB patients as it is one of the primary symptoms that starts the diagnostic process of TB in patients. This means that it may now be difficult to detect the disease in patients. If the symptoms are not obvious, there is a possibility of delay in diagnosis and treatment, due to which the disease may increase internally in the body and the risk of it taking a serious form also increases.
Risk of death from TB
Globally, 1.3 million (13 lakh) people are expected to die due to TB in the year 2022. After COVID-19, TB is the second leading cause of death from an infectious agent. The study's findings help explain the gap between the number of new TB cases reported globally (7.5 million in 2022) and the projected number of people who will develop the disease (10.6 million in 2022) each year, the researchers say. Why is there such a significant difference?
What do scientists say?
Frank Kobelens, professor of global health at the Amsterdam University Medical Center and author of the study, says the main symptoms are now seen disappearing in TB patients, which may take longer for patients to be diagnosed in the future. The average proportion of TB cases with a persistent cough or no cough was found to be higher among women, youth, and urban residents. In such a situation, it has become necessary to pay attention to other signs of TB so that the disease can be diagnosed in time.
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