Tuberculosis Patients During COVID-19 in India (2020–2023): A Brief State-of-the-art View

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne life-threatening respiratory disease, and India endures the highest burden of TB cases worldwide. Moreover, the COVID-19 crisis has significantly disrupted essential health services in India, making TB control even more challenging. In a densely populated country such as India, the COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated TB regulation, as millions of Indians now carry latent TB infections (dormant stage of Mycobacterium TB) that could reactivate at any time. The purpose of the present review is therefore to highlight the scenario of TB patients during COVID-19 pandemic as COVID-19 and TB both severely affects patient's respiratory systems. The COVID-19 pandemic placed strain on many patients including those with TB and even in the 21st century, with today's advanced medical facilities and technologies, SARS-CoV-2 infection has created a mountain of challenges for mankind. Furthermore, the pandemic has redirected a portion of healthcare workers towards COVID-19 management activities, resulting in a limited workforce available to address TB management; thus, the threat to TB patients is expected to persist in the future. This short review therefore aims to enlighten young researchers about the possibilities and preparedness for future pandemic situations.