Tuberculosis amidst COVID-19 pandemic in India: unspoken challenges and the way forward

Bardhan, Mainak; Hasan, Mohammad Mehedi; Ray, Ishita; Sarkar, Anusua; Chahal, Priyanka; Rackimuthu, Sudhan; Essar, Mohammad Yasir

doi:10.1186/s41182-021-00377-1

Cited by 23 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…In addition, a drop in TB cases during COVID-19 pandemic is not limited to Pakistan [6, 8]. Pakistan's neighbor, India, showed plummeting TB cases in the early days of the pandemic and a 21% decline from 2019 was reported worldwide in 2020 [10,18]. Government-mandated lockdowns, disruption of routine out-patient services, rerouting of TB-specific facilities, and fear of visiting hospitals has all contributed to impaired case-detection of TB, letting multiple cases go undiagnosed [10,18,19].…”

Section: Burden and Curren T Status Of Tb In Pakistan During Covid -1...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pakistan's neighbor, India, showed plummeting TB cases in the early days of the pandemic and a 21% decline from 2019 was reported worldwide in 2020 [10,18]. Government-mandated lockdowns, disruption of routine out-patient services, rerouting of TB-specific facilities, and fear of visiting hospitals has all contributed to impaired case-detection of TB, letting multiple cases go undiagnosed [10,18,19]. Furthermore, due to COVID-19, stigma associated respiratory diseases will potentially cause further isolation and refusal to report in many patients [20,21].…”

Section: Burden and Curren T Status Of Tb In Pakistan During Covid -1...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tuberculosis amidst COVID-19 in Pakistan: a massive threat of overlapping crises for the fragile healthcare systems

et al. 2022

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the cause of tuberculosis (TB), a granulomatous illness that mostly affects the lungs. Pakistan is one of the eight nations that accounts for two-thirds of all new cases of developing TB. TB has long been an endemic disease in Pakistan. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, the nation has over 500 000 incident TB infections per year, with a rising number of drug-resistant cases. Recently, the coexistence of COVID-19 and TB in Pakistan has provided doctors with a problem. Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing are all signs of COVID-19. After SARS-CoV-2 infection, cough might persist for weeks or months and it is frequently accompanied by persistent tiredness, cognitive impairment, dyspnoea or paina group of long-term consequences known as post-COVID syndrome or protracted COVID. Coughing with mucus or blood, and coughing that continues over 2 months are indications of TB. The same clinical presentation features make it difficult for healthcare personnel to effectively evaluate the illness and prevent the spread of these fatal diseases. Pakistan lacks the necessary healthcare resources to tackle two contagious diseases at the same time. To counteract the sudden increase in TB cases, appropriate management and effective policies must be implemented. Thus, in order to prevent the spread of these infectious diseases, it is critical to recognise and address the problems that the healthcare sector faces, as well as to create an atmosphere in which the healthcare sector can function at its full potential.

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Section: Burden and Curren T Status Of Tb In Pakistan During Covid -1...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Burden and Curren T Status Of Tb In Pakistan During Covid -1...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tuberculosis amidst COVID-19 in Pakistan: a massive threat of overlapping crises for the fragile healthcare systems

et al. 2022

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“…The increase in HIV cases is not irrational since numerous infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, fungal mucormycosis and Zika, have been on the rise in the current pandemic in India. HIV might exhibit a similar tendency, worrying that the healthcare system is already weakened [4][5][6]. COVID-19 has a distinct impact on people living with HIV (PLHIV), and its effect on HIV research and therapy will continue long after the COVID-19 crisis has passed [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HIV epidemic amidst COVID-19 pandemic in India: a conundrum for the country's healthcare system

Ray

Hasan²,

Shah³

et al. 2022

Epidemiol. Infect.

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India has the third-largest burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the world. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has only exposed the cracks in the Indian healthcare infrastructure concerning HIV. The prevalence of HIV in India is more among the destitute or sections of society shrouded by years of social stigma such as prostitutes, truck drivers, transsexuals and intravenous drug users. National AIDS Control Organisation and The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) organisation have many several efforts over the years to set up counselling and testing centres all over the country and spread awareness about HIV among the masses. COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of progress made by the same. HIV patients are biologically more susceptible to COVID-19, and the lockdown has led to the loss of jobs, economic crises, shortage of drugs and necessities such as food and housing among this vulnerable population, which can result in lowered CD4-T cell counts in the coming months and make way for dangerous opportunistic infection outbreaks in this population increasing the overall HIV burden of India. This article explores how COVID-19 has impacted India's already existing HIV epidemic and tries to put forth recommendations based on the evidence found to be better prepared in treating the HIV-positive population in India in the face of another catastrophe like the COVID-19.

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“…After getting infected with TB, an individual might not exhibit any signs or symptoms of the disease immediately. However, there is still a 5–15% chance of developing the active symptomatic illness within 2–5 years from acquiring the pathogen [6]. Infected individuals usually present with cough, fever, night sweats, fatigue, and loss of appetite [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis services: an experience from a tertiary care hospital

Jamwal

Mohanty

Swami

et al. 2022

Journal of Medical Microbiology

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Introduction. India is home to the most significant number of tuberculosis (TB) cases around the globe. The COVID-19 crisis has massively affected TB healthcare services in the country. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Are we sufficiently equipped to fight against TB during emergencies? Aim. Our study aims to provide a true insight into the disruption of TB care during the pandemic period at a tertiary care hospital in India. Methods. A retrospective observational cohort analysis was conducted on 6491 patients who accessed the TB diagnostics at the tertiary care hospital during the study period, i.e. the COVID-19 pandemic period (March 2020 to March 2021) compared with 14 665 in the control period (March 2019 to Feb 2020). Results. Out of the total tested, 3136 patients were notified as new TB cases in the study period than 4370 in the control period (P-value=0.0000001), i.e. 28.23 % decline in notifications. A drastic decline of 69 % in notifications was observed during the lock down months in the pandemic period, i.e. March to June 2020 (P-value=0.00001). A reduction of 44 % in treatment accession by 3690 TB patients in the control period compared with 2062 in the study period (P-value=0.0000001) was noted. Lost to follow-up patients increased by 65 % from 460 in the control period to 760 in the study period (P-value=0.0000001). Also, an increased death rate by 43 % from control to study period (P-value=0.0000001) was reported. Conclusion. There is an urgent need to maintain the continuity of essential TB services to reduce the rising burden in vulnerable populations. The need of the hour is to undertake novel strategies for tuberculosis control to combat such emergencies in the coming future.

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Tuberculosis amidst COVID-19 pandemic in India: unspoken challenges and the way forward

Cited by 23 publications

References 23 publications

Tuberculosis amidst COVID-19 in Pakistan: a massive threat of overlapping crises for the fragile healthcare systems

Tuberculosis amidst COVID-19 in Pakistan: a massive threat of overlapping crises for the fragile healthcare systems

HIV epidemic amidst COVID-19 pandemic in India: a conundrum for the country's healthcare system

Impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis services: an experience from a tertiary care hospital

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