Tuberculosis attacks 9 Million yearly, says WHO

EROMOSELE EBHOMELE

About nine million new cases of tuberculosis are recorded every year, according to the World Health Organisation, WHO.

In a report that coincides with the 2014 World Tuberculosis Day celebration today, the WHO said out of this number, three million victims of the infection do not access treatment for the deadly disease.

In 2013, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, said each year 190,000 Nigerians are affected by tuberculosis making Nigeria the 10th most infected country in the world and the country with the highest burden of the disease in Africa.

According to the NMA, there are over 84,263 new infections yearly with 27,000 deaths as a result of tuberculosis in the country.

Tuberculosis, popularly called TB, is an airborne disease spread through germs from coughing, sneezing or spitting from an affected person.

According to the international health body, a person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.

As a result, about one-third of the world’s population is believed to have latent TB, meaning that they are yet ill even though they carry the bacteria, and they cannot transmit it.

According to WHO, it is worthy of note that people infected with TB bacteria have a lifetime risk of falling ill with TB of 10 percent.

The manifestation of the disease could be quickened however by compromised immune systems caused by HIV, malnutrition or diabetes.

Smokers have a much higher risk of falling ill from the disease. More than 20 percent of TB cases worldwide are attributable to smoking, said the report.

The disease also affects other vital organs of the body including the lymph nodes, intestines, kidneys, reproductive organs, the skin, the spine and the nervous system.

Early symptoms of the disease, including cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss and others, are often mild for many months making many of those affected refuse to take proper care of themselves. This symptoms graduate into cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains and weakness.

“People ill with TB can infect up to 10-15 other people through close contact over the course of a year. Without proper treatment up to two thirds of people ill with TB will die,” the report stated.

WHO disclosed that tuberculosis mostly affects young adults, in their most productive years. “However, all age groups are at risk. Over 95 percent of cases and deaths are in developing countries.

“People who are co-infected with HIV and TB are 21 to 34 times more likely to become sick with TB. Risk of active TB is also greater in persons suffering from other conditions that impair the immune system,” it said.

The WHO says its celebration comes with the theme: ‘Reach The 3 Million’ to draw world attention to the plight of the three million who cannot access treatment annually. Many who fall into this group are from the world’s poorest, most vulnerable communities or are among marginalised populations such as migrant workers, refugees and internally displaced persons, prisoners, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and drug users..

“Earlier and faster diagnosis of all forms of TB is vital. It improves the chances of people getting the right treatment and being cured,” Dr Chan, WHO Director-General stressed adding: “it improves the chances of people getting the right treatment and being cured, and it helps stop spread of drug-resistant disease.”

Of all single-infection agents in the world, tuberculosis is the second greatest killer after HIV/AIDS.

In 2012, a total of 8.6 million people fell ill with TB while 1.3 million died from the disease as the report said about 80 percent of reported TB cases occurred in 22 countries.

The report highlighted that over 95 percent of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and that it is among the top three causes of death for women aged 15 to 44.

“In 2012, an estimated 530 000 children became ill with TB and 74 000 HIV-negative children died of TB,” the report said while stressing that it is also a leading killer of people living with HIV causing one-fifth of all deaths.

Despite these challenges, WHO says many countries are making impressive effort to reduce incidences of TB.