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Low-down on rising TB rates - and treatment June 11, 2004 By Tammy O'Reilly AN alarming rise in the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in Johannesburg has prompted a review of the current TB Control Programme by City health officials. Despite the City's efforts to curb the disease, the number of TB cases here has doubled from 4 800 in 1998, to 10 000 in 2003. According to the World Health Organisation website, TB, a contagious airborne disease that spreads when infected people cough, sneeze, spit or talk, kills around two million people each year. Management of TB cases has always been a challenge to health services, and the lengthy duration of treatment, socio-economic conditions, and HIV/Aids are primary reasons for the growing rate of infection. "One of the biggest problems we have is that for TB treatment to be effective, the medication has to be taken five times a week for six months," says Dr Baski Desai, deputy director of communicable diseases in the City of Johannesburg. "The problem we encounter, and this is prevalent throughout the world, is that because the medication seems to be effective within just six weeks, the symptoms disappear and the patients think they are cured." TB is found to be the most common opportunistic infection, which means it is the disease most commonly found in patients with weak immune systems, hence the fact that an estimated 50 percent of HIV-positive patients are infected with TB. Likewise, HIV/Aids, which depresses the immune system, also hampers efforts to increase the cure rate. Desai says the problem is compounded because people are not aware that TB is curable if they complete the full course of treatment. "The key is education. Because people's understanding of the disease is poor, they are more likely to spread the disease because of their ignorance," affirms Desai. The City has adopted the National TB Control Programme in which successfully treated TB patients monitor and educate other TB sufferers in their community. "This is an evolving service. You must understand that in many areas resources are scarce and we also don't have systems in place to keep track of all the patients and to make sure that they are taking their medication," says Desai. A card system where patients tick off days and times that they are taking their medication has also been introduced. This however, is not completely fool-proof as patients "cheat" by ticking off days on which they haven't taken medication. It has also been identified that the earlier the disease is detected, the easier it is to treat. "We need to educate people so that they know that TB is a curable disease for which treatment is readily available," said Desai. How TB is spread: The TB virus is found in everyone, but remains dormant in the body until it is aggravated by any of a number of conditions. When someone with active TB coughs, sneezes or spits, TB germs are spread into the air. If you work or live with someone in a confined space that has active TB, you can get it. TB rarely spreads from people who are taking treatment. TB cannot be caught from sharing eating and drinking utensils like plates and cups. Symptoms: Coughing for longer than two weeks or coughing up blood Chest pains Feeling tired or weak Weight loss Night sweats No appetite What to do: If you suspect you have TB or are experiencing any of the symptoms, go to your nearest clinic for treatment. There you will be asked to cough and spit into a bottle. The sample will be examined under a microscope and if you have TB, you will be given treatment immediately. Remember if TB is left untreated, you are at the risk of developing a more serious type of TB that is much harder to cure. Possibly even more importantly though, you are likely to spread the disease to other people. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za