KARACHI, May 3: The TB control programme on the basis of the Direct Observation Treatment Strategy (DOTS) was launched by the city government on Friday, with the commencement of training to doctors in North Karachi, Korangi and Shah Faisal towns.

WHO-funded DOTS is being monitored by the health department of the city government which will provide training and medicines to doctors, LHWs, LHVs, paramedics and volunteers in areas where cases of TB have been reported.

Deputy district officer, Dr Suleman Otho, will supervise the five-day training programme in all the 18 towns of the city.

Addressing a training session, Dr Suleman informed that contrary to the general perception reports of TB of bones and intestines had been received even from the posh area of the city.

He said the TB skin test was the only way to find out if one had latent TB infection. “The test is done by injecting a small amount of testing fluid just under the skin on the lower part of arm. After two or three days, reaction to the test is measured through a small bump where the tuberculin was injected. The bump reaction determines whether the case is positive or negative. A positive reaction usually means that one has latent TB infection and needs proper medication”, Dr Suleman explained.

He said TB in the lungs or the throat could be infectious. However, TB in other parts of the body such as the kidney or the spine was usually not infectious.

He said people with latent TB infection had no symptoms and didn’t feel sick. But they could develop TB later in life if they did not receive treatment.

“Though many people who have latent TB infection never develop TB. In these people, the TB bacteria remain inactive without causing disease. But in other people, especially people who have weak immune systems, the bacteria become active and cause TB”, Dr Suleman added.

He said the TB bacteria usually grew in the lungs. TB in the lungs might cause bad cough, pain in the chest and coughing up of blood or sputum. The other symptoms of TB, he said, were weakness or fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite and sweating at night.

Dr Suleman informed that according to the statics of the American Lung Association, 22 high TB-burden countries accounted for 80% of world TB; the countries were Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand , Uganda, Vietnam and Zimbabwe

“Though DOTS implementation has increased over the years in these countries, only Peru and Vietnam are the only high-burden countries to have achieved the WHO targets for case detection and treatment success.—PPI