Palliative care need of the hour for TB patients: Study
CHENNAI: Tuberculosis patients suffer from several physical symptoms including dyspnoea, throat and chest pain, cough, haemoptysis, respiratory secretions, insomnia, anorexia-cachexia, and fatigue. Being a long term illness, it can also cause mental distress due to the uncertainty of curability. With multi-speciality approach required for the management of the disease, experts recommend palliative care for the patients.
A research article by the experts at the Cancer Institute, Institute of Thoracic Medicine, and National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, published in the Tamil Nadu Journal of Public Health and Medical Research states that palliative care is the need of the hour for TB patients.
In addition to chest pain, TB patients can experience back pain due to Pott’s spine, headaches due to TB meningitis, and joint pain due to TB arthritis. The primary symptom of cough can induce nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and also disrupt sleep causing insomnia.
The article highlights that besides physical support, social support is also required for the TB patients. Social workers can help by locating homeless TB patients, assist them with accommodation, and coordinating transportation to ensure they attend their TB appointments regularly. Nutritionists play an important role, as nutrition helps in timely recovery.
“Patients with diabetes have a higher risk of developing tuberculosis from a latent tuberculosis. A complete cure necessitates constant monitoring and good glycaemic control. Diabetes, heart problems, kidney failure, and liver dysfunction add to the burden and raise the need for palliative care,” the article written by Jefrilla Nancy and VV Meenakshi from the Cancer Institute said.
However, it also presents various challenges to palliative care for TB patients and lack of awareness is a primary concern. “The use of palliative care in infectious diseases such as TB, rabies, malaria, and other illnesses is a new area that requires development. Despite receiving training in palliative care, understanding the application of TB necessitates specific knowledge and skills in the disease,” the article stated.
It recommends the provision of community-based palliative care at the primary health care level. It also stresses on the need to teach pulmonologists and respiratory specialists to provide the care to promote patient care as a holistic undertaking. Creating awareness among providers to extend palliative care even to drug susceptible patients is imperative.
Patients with diabetes have a higher risk of developing TB. A complete cure necessitates constant monitoring and good glycaemic control — Article by Jefrilla Nancy and VV Meenakshi