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| Advancements in India's Fight Against Tuberculosis: A Comprehensive Overview |
The annual India TB report reveals encouraging progress in the nation's battle against tuberculosis (TB) from 2015 to 2022, showcasing a remarkable 16% decline in TB incidence, surpassing the global decline of 9%. This comprehensive overview delves into the key findings and milestones outlined in the National TB Elimination Programme, India TB Report 2024.
Key Findings:
- India recorded a significant milestone with 25.55 lakh TB cases notified in 2023, marking the highest since the inception of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.
- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar led the state-wise notifications, with Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest number of TB cases.
- Notably, the private sector contributed over 8.4 lakh TB case notifications, indicating a 1.17% increase from the previous year and a substantial rise since 2017.
Treatment Coverage and Mortality:
- India's treatment coverage surged to 80% of estimated TB cases, reflecting a 19% increase over the preceding year.
- TB mortality saw a significant decline to 23 per lakh population, showcasing an 18% decrease from 2015 figures.
Achievements and Milestones:
- India achieved a noteworthy case notification rate of approximately 179 cases per lakh population in 2023, narrowing the coverage gap to 0.2 million.
- The programme's dedication to combating drug resistance is evident with 63,939 cases of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) diagnosed in 2023.
- Active case-finding efforts led to screening over 20.5 crore individuals for TB symptoms.
- Demographically, 60.7% of notified TB cases were men, 39.2% were women, and 0.04% were transgender.
Understanding TB:
- Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lungs and spreads through airborne droplets.
- Diagnosis involves chest X-rays, sputum tests, and skin tests, while treatment comprises a combination of antibiotics taken over several months.
Types of TB:
- Latent TB, dormant in individuals without symptoms, can progress to active TB if untreated.
- Active TB manifests with symptoms and is contagious, affecting either the lungs (pulmonary TB) or other organs (extrapulmonary TB).
- Other forms include Miliary TB, affecting multiple organs, and drug-resistant TB, which challenges conventional treatment methods.
TB-HIV Co-infection:
- TB-HIV co-infection poses a significant health risk globally, with India reporting 34,476 co-infected cases in 2023.
- Effective management involves starting patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and Co-trimoxazole Prophylaxis Therapy (CPT).
National TB Elimination Programme:
- Launched in 1997, the National TB Elimination Programme employs the DOTS strategy, offers free diagnosis and treatment, and fosters public-private partnerships.
- Active case finding, facilitated by the Nikshay platform, and the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB Elimination 2017-2025, drive India's efforts toward TB eradication by 2025.
India's Goals:
- India aspires to eliminate TB by 2025, aligning with the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 2030.
- Despite significant progress, India acknowledges the need for sustained efforts to combat TB effectively.