TB fight takes a turn for the worse as drugs fail
By, SABC News, February 10, 2007
Health authorities in KwaZulu-Natal are faced with a new tuberculosis (TB) challenge. A second-line drug, used to treat the extremely drug resistant (XDR) TB, is showing to be toxic.
Curing XDR is becoming more difficult and more people are dying.
Iqbal Master, a doctor at the King George Hospital, says: "Some of the patients have experienced side-effects such as vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and capriomason. Some patients have had electrolytes imbalances, which has proven difficult to treat."
Sandile Buthelezi, a doctor with the KwaZulu-Natal department of health, says: "We want to give doctors a chance to try the treatment for some time, monitor patients … then if we still have a problem … really there's no new drug before 2012."
WHO’s assistance
The outbreak of the deadly TB strain two years ago in Tugela Ferry gripped the world's attention. Despite international intervention, it continues to claim lives and up to 184 people have died in the Umsinga area alone. Most susceptible are those living with HIV. Officials concede they cannot win the fight alone.
The province has spent R32 million on ways to fight the spread of the disease.
Initiatives to curb TB spread
TB, a common and deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacterium, most commonly affects the lungs but can also affect the central nervous system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, genitourinary system, bones, joints, and even the skin.
The rise in HIV infection levels and the neglect of TB control programmes have caused a resurgence of TB. Drug-resistant strains of TB have emerged and are spreading (in 2000-2004, 20% of cases were resistant to standard treatments, and 2% were also resistant to second-line drugs).
The WHO declared TB a global health emergency in 1993, and the Stop TB Partnership proposed a Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis which aims to save 14 million lives between 2006 and 2015.
Source: http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/health/0,2172,143541,00.html
Health authorities in KwaZulu-Natal are faced with a new tuberculosis (TB) challenge. A second-line drug, used to treat the extremely drug resistant (XDR) TB, is showing to be toxic.
Curing XDR is becoming more difficult and more people are dying.
Iqbal Master, a doctor at the King George Hospital, says: "Some of the patients have experienced side-effects such as vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and capriomason. Some patients have had electrolytes imbalances, which has proven difficult to treat."
Sandile Buthelezi, a doctor with the KwaZulu-Natal department of health, says: "We want to give doctors a chance to try the treatment for some time, monitor patients … then if we still have a problem … really there's no new drug before 2012."
WHO’s assistance
The outbreak of the deadly TB strain two years ago in Tugela Ferry gripped the world's attention. Despite international intervention, it continues to claim lives and up to 184 people have died in the Umsinga area alone. Most susceptible are those living with HIV. Officials concede they cannot win the fight alone.
The province has spent R32 million on ways to fight the spread of the disease.
Initiatives to curb TB spread
TB, a common and deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacterium, most commonly affects the lungs but can also affect the central nervous system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, genitourinary system, bones, joints, and even the skin.
The rise in HIV infection levels and the neglect of TB control programmes have caused a resurgence of TB. Drug-resistant strains of TB have emerged and are spreading (in 2000-2004, 20% of cases were resistant to standard treatments, and 2% were also resistant to second-line drugs).
The WHO declared TB a global health emergency in 1993, and the Stop TB Partnership proposed a Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis which aims to save 14 million lives between 2006 and 2015.
Source: http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/health/0,2172,143541,00.html
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