It's Time To End Latent TB Too! #WorldTBDay
Channel: CNS
Date: 2019-03-19

Between a quarter and a third of the world’s population are estimated to be infected with latent tuberculosis (TB). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), on average, 5-10% of those who are infected with latent TB, will develop active TB disease over their lifetime. 

Every case of active TB disease comes from an individual with latent TB infection. And every new case of latent TB infection is a sign of failing infection control, as someone with active TB disease transmitted the bacteria to an uninfected person.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), persons with latent TB infection do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms. They are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but do not have TB disease. Persons with latent TB infection are not infectious and cannot spread TB infection to others. Overall, without treatment, about 5 to 10% of infected persons will develop TB disease at some time in their lives. Also studies show that poorly controlled diabetes increases risk of latent TB.

Kerala state of India, has committed to eliminate latent TB too as part of its efforts to end TB.
 
PANEL OF EXPERTS:
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* Dr Shibu Balakrishnan, TB expert from RNTCP Kerala, India

* Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, head of Vietnam's national TB programme

* Dr Shibu Vijayan, acting Global TB Technical Director at PATH

* Dr Rajesh Kumar Sood, District TB Officer, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India

* Dr Erlina Burhan, Head of TB DOTS and MDR-TB Persahabatan Hospital, Indonesia and member, Board of Directors, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)

* (Moderator) Shobha Shukla, Executive Director and Managing Editor, CNS

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
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