Don’t let Covid-19 stop you from TB testing and treatment

It is estimated that approximately 58 000 people died of TB in our country in 2019 alone, and there are grave concerns that a slowdown in TB testing and treatment could place many thousands more lives at risk.

“World TB Day is an important opportunity to raise awareness and encourage testing to help address the damaging effects of the ongoing, epidemic of TB,” said pharmacist Joy Steenkamp of Medipost Pharmacy, one of South Africa courier pharmacies.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations set a target to eradicate TB by 2030 in the Sustainable Development Goals; however, this ambitious aim requires an enormous global effort at all levels of society.

“The World TB Day theme for this year is The Clock is Ticking, highlighting that time is of the essence to save lives from one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world.”

Steenkamp pointed out that since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, many developing countries, in particular, have encountered new challenges in reaching this goal.

“In South Africa, these setbacks include fewer people seeking medical attention and being tested for TB often out of fear of contracting Covid-19 in the healthcare setting, as well as reduced numbers of patients accessing TB medicines and completing their treatment.”

Tuberculosis is curable and hence it is further important to treat it in the right time. Delayed treatment is denied treatment.#tuberculosis #WorldTBDay2021#higherhealthatwork #savelives@RamneekHH @HigherEduGovZA @HealthZA @HWSETA_SA @WHO @HIVTB pic.twitter.com/kQYWax8utH

— Higher Health South Africa (@HigherHealthSA) March 24, 2021

Preventing treatment-resistant strains of TB

“From a pharmacy perspective, gaps in medicine access for TB patients are especially concerning, as interrupting treatment can lead to the development of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) or extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) strains that are more difficult to treat. Many people soon start to feel better once they begin TB treatment; however, it is crucial to complete the full course of medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor even once symptoms improve.

“With the treatments available today, TB can often be cured within six months, but if left untreated it can infect other parts of the body.

“Anyone can get TB, and there is no reason to be ashamed or to stigmatise others with the condition. “Remember, approximately a third of us have latent TB already in our systems, even if we do not become ill with it,” she pointed out.

Similarities and differences between Covid-19 and TB

According to Steenkamp, while trying to navigate parallel health crises can be difficult, recognising how TB and Covid-19 compare and contrast can be helpful.

“Like Covid-19, TB is spread through tiny droplets from the respiratory tract; however, the difference is that TB droplets can remain in the air for a few hours, and inhalation is the primary route of contracting the bacteria. SARS-CoV-2, on the other hand, tends to fall on surfaces and can also be spread when someone touches an object with the virus droplets on it.”

Some of the precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 can also help reduce the spread of TB, namely: wearing a mask, practising social distancing and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated areas.

Opening windows for good ventilation in vehicles and buildings can further help reduce the chances of infection.

More than ‘just a cough’ – know the symptoms of TB

What is tuberculosis (TB) and what are the most common symptoms of TB ? #WorldTuberculosisDay pic.twitter.com/xRnynXDceV

— IGMH (@igmhmv) March 24, 2021

Typical symptoms of TB include fever, cough, body aches, chills, weight loss and night sweats, and while the disease more commonly affects the lungs, it can also affect other organs or structures, including the lymph nodes, bones, the abdomen, pleura (the lining of the lungs), the heart, spinal cord or brain.

“TB meningitis, which is when the infection causes inflammation of the membrane covering the brain, can present symptoms of headache, light sensitivity, stiff neck and seizures.

“People with TB pericarditis, which involves inflammation of the heart, may experience shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing when lying down, ankle oedema (swelling) and a fast heart rate,” Steenkamp added.

“Another way TB can affect the body is spinal TB with neurological complications, which can cause symptoms of severe back pain, swelling, abscesses, vertebral collapse and ultimately paralysis, if not treated in time.

“As South Africans, we can play our part towards ending TB by breaking down the stigma, knowing how it spreads and raising awareness of classic and unusual symptoms of TB.

“Also, WHO recommends increasing access to medication and community programmes, the use of technology in counselling and supporting treatment adherence, as well as decentralised or home delivery of medication for prevention and successful treatment of TB.

“TB therapy requires commitment and support to finish the typical six-month regimen.

“Newer antibiotics and shorter treatment regimens are being studied in South Africa with promising results, which is welcome news because TB can become resistant to current treatments.

“For now, awareness, empathy, testing and treatment adherence are our best line of defence against the ever-present threat of TB.”