‘Don’t stop TB drugs before infection is wiped out’

LUCKNOW: At least 15% patients who don’t take tuberculosis medication on time or leave it midway are responsible for drug resistant TB in this part of the world, said Professor Zia Hashim of pulmonary medicine department, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences.

He said some people have a tendency of skipping drug doses or taking lesser medicines without knowing the gravity of the disease.

› Patients need not worry if their liver function test shows some abnormality during course of treatment. TB drugs cannot be stopped before the infection is wiped out completely.

PROFESSOR ZIA HASHIM, pulmonary medicine department, SGPGIMS

“Around 5 to 10% patients who are on TB drugs have the tendency of developing problems in liver function but that is handled by doctors. So, patients need not worry if their liver function test shows some abnormality during course of treatment. TB drugs cannot be stopped before the infection is wiped out totally,” he said addressing a gathering of doctors in a continuous medical education programme at SGPGIMS on Thursday.

Professor Richa Mishra of microbiology department, PGI said, “Around 20% patients are developing resistance against TB drugs. The SGPGI is equipped to detect drug resistant TB through gene expert technique, in just seven hours. In a year, sputum of more than 2,000 people was examined and around 20% of them showed resistance to Rifampicin.”

Speaking on the occasion, SGPGI director professor Rakesh Kapoor said, “The Centre has decided to eradicate TB from the country by 2025, so it’s important for doctors to ensure that TB patients take medicine for 12 to 24 months or as prescribed by experts.”