Extra-pulmonary TB cases increase in Manicaland
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has recorded a six percent increase in confirmed extra-pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Manicaland during the January-June 2018 time frame.
Extra-pulmonary TB is when the infection occurs in other parts of the body other than the lungs.
Provincial TB and leprosy coordinator Mr Edwell Zamba said the province has recorded a total of 1078 tuberculosis cases during the first half of the year of which 15 percent are extra-pulmonary TB cases. Last year during the same period, the province recorded 1102 cases of TB and only 9 percent were extra-pulmonary cases.
“During the first half of 2016, we recorded 1102 TB cases and 893 cases were pulmonary TB cases, 100 were extra pulmonary cases and 109 were re-treatments of the disease. This year so far, we have recorded only 1078 TB cases in total but sadly the percentage of extra-pulmonary cases has risen by 6 percent. 157 cases of extra-pulmonary TB cases have been recorded during this year’s January to June time frame and that is already 15 percent.
“Tuberculosis can travel through blood to any part of the body from the lungs and if that happens and it gets transmitted to other parts of the body, then it becomes extra-pulmonary tuberculosis,” said Mr Zamba.
Examples of extra-pulmonary TB are TB meningitis, TB pluralifian, TB of the bones and TB of the joints.
He said it takes ten months to go through extra-pulmonary TB treatment while it takes only six months to finish pulmonary TB treatment.
Mr Zamba urged patients to get tested and seek treatment as soon as they experience extra-pulmonary TB symptoms which may include stiffness of the neck, dizziness and headaches.
“If not treated with urgency, treatment might take longer than the normal ten months and it might also result in death for the patient. When people experience these symptoms they need to immediately get tasted so that they get treatment,” he said.
Mr Zamba also said people needed to be sensitized and knowledgeable to help prevent contracting the deadly disease. He said Tb is usually contagious and is transmitted through the air and therefore the need for being in well ventilated environments.
“People should always be in well ventilated environments, avoid overcrowded places and have a good balanced diet to avoid extra-pulmonary TB.’’
The best way however to prevent contracting extra-pulmonary TBs he said, is to prevent contracting TB.
“The complications of some extra-pulmonary TBs are significant, and in some cases life-threatening.
‘‘They include seizures, hearing loss, brain damage, raised pressure in the brain, stroke and death,” he said.
Extra-pulmonary TB can develop in children and adults of all ages. However, people with specific health problems are at greater risk for developing these conditions. Risk factors for this kind of TB includes having a history of HIV and Aids, excessive alcohol use, weakened immune system and diabetes mellitus.
Young children below four years are most likely to develop this condition.