Extrapulmonary TB of brain, spine on the rise; children more vulnerable

Tuberculosis, an infectious disease caused by bacteria, that most often affects the lungs, is popping its ugly head again in India, with 2024 seeing a rapid growth in the number of cases, touching 26 lakh, the highest ever recorded in the country.

- Dr Aakashneel Bhattacharya

Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). The new programme emphasises aggressive case detection through targeted testing in high-risk populations, leading to more diagnosed and reported cases. Another critical factor is the lingering impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many patients received steroid treatments during the pandemic, which suppressed their immune systems and triggered the reactivation of dormant TB.