Tuberculosis and COVID-19 are infectious diseases which primarily attack the lungs. They present with similar symptoms of cough, fever and difficulty in breathing, although TB disease has a longer incubation period and a slower onset of disease.
Screen patients for symptoms of TB and COVID-19
Figure: Screening steps for TB - COVID 19 Patients
Almost 38% of TB deaths are associated with the use of tobacco. The prevalence of TB is three times higher among ever-smokers as compared to that of never-smokers. Mortality from TB is three to four times higher among ever-smokers as compared to never-smokers. Smoking contributes to 50% of male deaths in the 25-69 age group from TB in India.
The presence of tuberculosis disease during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum is known to result in unfavourable outcomes for both pregnant women and their infants. These outcomes include a roughly two-fold increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, and a six-fold increase in perinatal death.
Screen TB patients in Pregnancy & Lactating Patients
About 10% TB deaths globally have been attributed to alcohol as a risk factor(WHO, Global TB Report 2017). Alcohol abuse is associated with threefold increase in risk of contracting tuberculosis.
Side effects of anti TB drugs in this situation might get aggravated.
Figure: Impact of Alcoholism on TB patients
Tobacco in TB Patients
Alcoholism in TB Patients
Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions.
Malnutrition in TB Patients
As a consequence of urbanization as well as social and economic development, there has been a rapidly growing epidemic of Diabetes Mellitus(DM). India has the second largest number of diabetic people in the world.
Screen TB patients for symptoms of diabetes
Figure: Screening steps for TB - Diabetic Patients
