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Antibiotics hamper early detection of TB
Taking antibiotics without prescription for cough might give temporary relief but it indirectly helps the Tuberculosis (TB) bacteria to grow stronger and resist the drugs used in the treatment.
​Ongole: Taking antibiotics without prescription for cough might give temporary relief but it indirectly helps the Tuberculosis (TB) bacteria to grow stronger and resist the drugs used in the treatment.
The Central government introduced Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) in a bid to eradicate tuberculosis. The objectives of the programs include early detection and successful cure of 90 per cent new TB cases.
These objectives are at stake, as the people suffering with cough are being recommended to use fluoroquinolones like levofloxacin, moxifloxacin and ofloxacin at medical shops.
The use of fluoroquinolones reduces the number of bacteria, but does not kill it completely. So, in these cases the sputum test (which determines whether a person is suffering with TB) comes negative. However after a few weeks, the patient suffers from TB.
In these types of cases, the tuberculosis bacteria develop resistance to the drugs commonly used to treat the disease. TB transforms into Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDRTB) and then to Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDRTB).
These stages not only involves more money for treatment but due to lack of proper diagnoses mortality rate is on the high About 41,698 patients are tested positive in sputum smear test and about 61758 patients are registered for treatment for TB in 2015.
According to statistics with Joint TB monitoring mission, Vizianagaram district tops with more than 200 TB patients per 1,00,000 people.
Speaking to The Hans India, Dr T Ramesh TB control officer of Prakasam district said that about 1,050 patients were tested positive for TB in first half of 2016. “The antibiotics available in the medical shops affect the tuberculosis bacteria.
The unnecessary use of fluoroquinolones for cough is affecting the chances of identifying the disease in early stages. Besides stopping use of fluoruquinolones without prescription, we request the people to test their sputum if there is cough for two continuous weeks,” he added
