Senior citizens most vulnerable to TB

People aged over 65 are most vulnerable to infectious pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) among people in Bangladesh, with 954 people out of every 1,00,000 suffering from it, according to a national survey report.

The prevalence of the disease in the country is 260 per 100,000 population, it said.

Findings of the report titled “National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey Bangladesh 2015-2016” were disclosed at a workshop, jointly arranged by the National Tuberculosis Control Programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organisation at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka yesterday.

It also says the prevalence was higher among males compared to females (452 compared to 143 per 1,00,000), and was higher in urban compared to rural clusters.

As per the report, 316 people per one lakh population in urban areas and 270 people per one lakh population in rural areas were diagnosed with bacteriologically confirmed TB.

The report also says the rate of detection of the decease is higher with using X-ray screening compared to symptomatic screening.

Only 10.6 percent people with symptoms of TB first sought facilities at government hospitals compared to 51.8 percent people seeking treatment at private hospitals, it further says. A significant 29.3 percent people first rushed to the pharmacies for remedy.

Prof Mahmudur Rahman, principal investigator of the survey team and former director of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said TB prevalence increasing with age is a concern. The government should look into the older population as they are most vulnerable.

There is a need to improve case findings by application of symptomatic screening while programmes need to focus on case detection among older population, he said.

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim urged civil surgeons at district level to take leadership role and ensure healthcare facilities for poor people of the country.

He said his ministry will provide necessary medical equipment across the country to help detect TB at early stage, and ensure reducing its prevalence rate.

Zahid Maleque, state minister for health and family welfare and Prof Abul Kalam Azad, director general of Directorate General of Health Services, among others, spoke at the programme.