DOHA: Tuberculosis (TB) claimed at least two lives last year while more than 500 new cases were diagnosed here, according to an expert.
Qatar marked World TB Day (WTD), recently, as a reminder that this very ancient killing disease is still going around silently affecting millions of people every year with about 2 million people dying from it every year.
“We diagnosed some 580 new TB cases in 2010 which decreased from 619 the previous year. Though majority of the cases were from South East Asian countries, 18 were Qataris. The majority of cases were among young adults aged 25 to 45,” said Dr Abdul Latif Al Khal, National TB Programme Manager.
“A majority of 324 cases were of the type that affects the lungs (pulmonary) and the remaining 256 accounted for extra-pulmonary type that affects other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, brain and the bowel. Some four patients were diagnosed with multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB, which is more difficult to cure. Two deaths also occurred due to TB.”
Apart from these cases, 1,369 close TB-contacts screened for TB infections, out of which 374 were found to have caught the infection. In addition, 932 people were found to have old TB infection, which comes from random check-ups as in chest X-rays from clinics, annual checks in some jobs as in barbers and food handlers, from the Medical Commission during visa processes etc.
Qatar’s National TB Programme plays a major role in combating TB in the country. Through the joint efforts of HMC and the SCH, Qatar enjoys low rates of TB among nationals and the stable residents. All TB related medical care is provided free for everyone.
People treated for TB usually can go back to their work within few weeks of starting treatment. The national programme works closely with the World Health Organisation on TB control. It aims to reach a state of TB elimination among Qataris over in the short run and among expatriates over the long run.
WTD theme, this year is “On the move against TB; transforming the fight towards elimination”. This is a major shift in the way the world addresses the global TB problem as it is the first time “eliminating” TB and not just controlling it is focused. This puts TB on the list of diseases to be eliminated such as polio and measles. As part of WTD, SCH and HMC concentrated efforts on educating the healthcare workers and the public on TB related matters. A symposium was organised at HMC addressing important clinical aspects of TB control such as TB statistics, infection control measures to limit its spread, rapid diagnostic tests, new testing modalities and new treatment.
At the community level, the SCH is organising an educational campaign targeting the population at greatest risk for TB in collaboration with HMC.
The Peninsula