Rapid rise in TB seen in Gujarat: The death rate from Tuberculosis (TB) is not decreasing in Gujarat. More than 1.11 lakh TB cases have been reported so far this year. Thus, on an average, more than 380 new TB cases are reported every day. Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states with the highest number of TB cases in the country this year with 5.35 lakh. Apart from this, 31,600 people have lost their lives due to TB from 2019 to 2023. On an average, 16 people die every day due to TB.

Ahmedabad has the highest number of TB cases

As of October 19, 2024, there are 75,461 TB patients registered in government hospitals in the state, while 35,735 patients are registered in private hospitals. In Gujarat, the maximum number of 12,715 cases have come from Ahmedabad city alone. 8830 patients have been registered in government hospitals from Ahmedabad city, while 3885 patients have been registered in private hospitals.

There are a total of 2989 cases of TB from Ahmedabad rural. Thus, 15,704 patients are included from Ahmedabad district itself. Overall, about 15 per cent of TB cases reported from Gujarat are from Ahmedabad district alone. Surat Municipal Corporation ranks second in TB cases with 9289. While Dahod is at third place with 7917.

An average of 15 people die from TB every day

By June 2024, 2784 TB patients have died in Gujarat. Between 2019 and 2023, there have been 2 deaths from malaria, 47 from dengue, 17 from typhoid and 4 from pneumonia in Gujarat. In comparison, an average of 15 people die every day due to TB.

TB can affect any part of the body

According to doctors, TB can affect any part of the body except hair and nails. But most cases occur in the lungs, called pulmonary TB. When pulmonary TB infection becomes active, it affects the lungs in about 90 percent of cases, involving chest pain and a prolonged cough with mucus.

About 25 percent of people may have no symptoms. Sometimes people may have a little blood in their sputum, and in very rare cases, a pulmonary artery infection may cause a lot of blood. In severe TB, the upper part of the lungs may be more affected.

In 15 to 20 percent of active cases the infection may spread beyond the lungs. This leads to another type of TB called extrapulmonary TB. This type of TB mostly affects people with low immunity and young children. A more severe and widespread form of TB is called disseminated tuberculosis, which causes about 10 percent of extrapulmonary cases.

What are the symptoms of TB?

Symptoms of TB include a strong cough, blood in the sputum, fever, excessive sweating at night, and weight loss. More than 50 percent of people with HIV develop the disease. Extrapulmonary TB mostly affects people with weakened immune systems and young children.