TB on the rise in KL
From a recent news report indicating an alarming rise of tuberculosis and HFMD infections in an affluent area of Malaysia.
What is worrying is the actual incidence rate of MultiDrug Resistant TB infections in Malaysia. MDR TB is a problem in surrounding countries in South East Asia and has not yet been a major problem in Malaysia.
Tuberculosis has always been thought to affect lower socio-economic groups. Thus much blame has been put on migrant workers. The new style of living in high rise buildings could also have a role in this air borne infection where families are now living in closer proximity to each other.
It is however still of paramount importance to beef up the health screening of migrant workers and identifying illegal immigrants which is thought to be in the region of a few hundred thousands in Malaysia. Citizens of Malaysia will have play an important role here. Solely relying on the police and the immigration authorities may not be sufficient if we are to plug the holes in our borders.
At the same time, doctors should be thorough when examining immigrants during their compulsory health screenings. Being pressured to pass off an unhealthy individual should not occur and is tantamount to medical negligence.
Strengthening our DOTS program is important to ensure completion of treatment and thus reduce the likelihood of MDR TB. Complacency in this aspect will be catastrophic.
Ultimately, TB is a treatable condition. What is more ideal would be a more effective drug requiring a much shorter course of treatment. Many new compounds are currently being tested and still remains far from reaching clinical practice. There is a Tuberculosis Antimicrobial Acquisition and Coordinating Facility (TAACF) which accepts new compounds for testing against TB.
Perhaps a Nobel Prize is in store for the discoverer of a new more potent anti-TB drug which will revolutionise TB treatment and save millions of lives.
What is worrying is the actual incidence rate of MultiDrug Resistant TB infections in Malaysia. MDR TB is a problem in surrounding countries in South East Asia and has not yet been a major problem in Malaysia.
Tuberculosis has always been thought to affect lower socio-economic groups. Thus much blame has been put on migrant workers. The new style of living in high rise buildings could also have a role in this air borne infection where families are now living in closer proximity to each other.
It is however still of paramount importance to beef up the health screening of migrant workers and identifying illegal immigrants which is thought to be in the region of a few hundred thousands in Malaysia. Citizens of Malaysia will have play an important role here. Solely relying on the police and the immigration authorities may not be sufficient if we are to plug the holes in our borders.
At the same time, doctors should be thorough when examining immigrants during their compulsory health screenings. Being pressured to pass off an unhealthy individual should not occur and is tantamount to medical negligence.
Strengthening our DOTS program is important to ensure completion of treatment and thus reduce the likelihood of MDR TB. Complacency in this aspect will be catastrophic.
Ultimately, TB is a treatable condition. What is more ideal would be a more effective drug requiring a much shorter course of treatment. Many new compounds are currently being tested and still remains far from reaching clinical practice. There is a Tuberculosis Antimicrobial Acquisition and Coordinating Facility (TAACF) which accepts new compounds for testing against TB.
Perhaps a Nobel Prize is in store for the discoverer of a new more potent anti-TB drug which will revolutionise TB treatment and save millions of lives.
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