City sees growing number of drug-resistant TB cases

Mumbai has recorded a large number of extreme drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) cases with 479 cases in the state in 2015. This was marginally higher than the number of cases recorded in the previous year, 2014.

XDR-TB is totally drug-resistant TB where the bacteria don’t respond to the first and second line TB drug, which increases the mortality rate among patients. It takes a longer time to treat XDR-TB and patients have to be on medication for at least two years. In 2012, the first case of XDR-TB was reported in India at a hospital in Mumbai. While there were 479 cases reported in 2015, there were 469 cases reported in 2014. This is as per the data provided by the state health ministry.

However, officials maintained that the growing number of cases is only because more number of patients is getting identified at an early stage due to increase in awareness and better healthcare facilities. Sanjeev Kamble, head of TB programme in the state health ministry, said, “The detection rate has increased, which helps in identifying patients earlier and provide early treatment. The growing number doesn’t mean that more patients are falling prey to TB, but more patients are getting identified for treatment.”

As the treatment period is longer, many patients opt out of it without completing the treatment, which further deteriorates their condition.

“Continuation of treatment for two years in XDR-TB becomes the main hurdle as many discontinue it. Incomplete treatment not only deteriorates the health condition of the patient but also results in the infection of other people with the same drug-resistant TB,” warned a TB specialist from JJ Hospital.