' Tuberculosis affects all parts of body'

By Srijana Chhetri, Kathmandu, Mar.24: Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that usually affects your lungs but it can also spread to other organs, according to Senior Consultant Pulmonologist (Chest Physician) Dr Naveen Prakash Shah. 

He said, "Tuberculosis (TB) germs spread through the air from one person to another. TB germs can get into the air when someone with active TB disease coughs, speaks or sings. People nearby may breathe in these germs and become infected. TB affects all parts of the body."

Tuberculosis infects 90 percent of the lungs. Tuberculosis also affects other organs, such as the outer membrane of the heart, muscles, joints, and brain. TB can affect women's ovaries and cause infertility.

According to Dr Shah, people with unhealthy lifestyles and diets, malnourished people, smokers and tobacco consumers, diabetic, alcoholic, HIV-infected, and weak immune systems, are at high risk of tuberculosis.

Weight loss, loss of interest in food, persistent cough for more than two weeks, and fever at night are the main symptoms of tuberculosis.

He said that TB is treatable with medications but can be fatal if not treated.

According to medical doctors, tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by infection with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). 

According to the Director of the National TB Control Center, Dr Shriram Tiwari, tuberculosis ranks 10th among the causes of death in Nepal. Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem in Nepal.

Center Director Dr. Tiwari said that out of the estimated number of patients in Nepal, only 40,776 tuberculosis patients have come under the scope of treatment.

40 percent or 27,224 TB patients in Nepal are outside the scope of treatment. 

In 2023, the World Health Organization estimated that 68,000 new TB patients would be added in Nepal every year and 16,000 patients will die from it.

He said, "There is a big gap between the estimated number of TB patients and the number of patients who have come under treatment. We have not been able to bring 40 percent of TB patients under treatment."

The World Tuberculosis Day is being observed today by organising a variety of programmes including Nepal.

Every year, 24 March is observed as World TB Day to amplify the urgency of ending tuberculosis (TB), the world’s deadliest infectious disease. TB continues to devastate millions globally, inflicting severe health, social and economic consequences.    

According to the World Health Organisation, this year’s theme is “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”. It offers an opportunity to reflect on ongoing efforts and encourage stronger commitment at local, national and international levels to end TB, including by combating the growing threat of drug-resistant TB.