Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which doctor should I see if I have pulmonary / lung tuberculosis?You should see a general physician or a respiratory care doctor in case of pulmonary tuberculosis.
2. What are the complications of tuberculosis?
Complications of tuberculosis include-
- Multi drug resistance
- Relapse of the disease
- Pleural effusion
- Respiratory failure
- Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Death
3. What is drug-resistant tuberculosis?
Drug-resistant TB cannot be treated with some of the common drugs used to treat tuberculosis. Drug resistant TB is also contagious. Treatment for drug resistant TB involves taking different tablets and it lasts longer than six months. Incomplete treatment is one leading cause of drug-resistant TB.
4. What is the TB Burden in India?
In spite of the availability of chemotherapy for TB, there are 14 million tuberculosis cases in India and a staggering 500,000 deaths every year due to this disease. Most TB cases occur in the 15-59 year age group (economically the most productive years) and nearly 50% of population in India is infected with TB.
5. What is the 'Revised National TB Control Program'?
Revised National TB Control Program or RNTCP is the government program for TB control in India. The responsibility of curing the patient is in the hands if the health provider and patient is the VIP of the program. Under RNTCP, as soon as a patient is diagnosed based on sputum microscopy a drug box containing the high quality drugs for the entire duration is made available to the patient. The drugs are given to the patients by DOT (Direct Observation of Treatment) either by the health provider or a community volunteer.
6. What is World Tuberculosis Day?
Every year March 24th is observed as the 'World TB Day' because TB was discovered by Robert Koch on March 24th 1880. Despite the availability of good chemotherapy and effective treatment regimens TB kills more adults each year than any other infectious disease- more than malaria, diarrhea, AIDS and other tropical diseases put together. Awareness about the symptoms of the disease and removal of the stigma about the disease are crucial factors in TB control.
| Myths about TB | Facts about TB |
| TB is a hereditary disease | TB is a disease that spreads through air |
| TB occurs only in lower socioeconomic group | Anyone can get TB irrespective of socioeconomic status |
| Smoking causes TB | Smoking aggravates TB |
| TB patients should be hospitalized | TB patients can be treated at home and he can continue to work |
