TB is a curable and preventable airborne disease that kills about 4000
people daily globally.
According to WHO, TB is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest killer
worldwide due to a single infectious agent.
In 2011, 8.7 million people fell ill with TB and 1.4 million died from
this disease.
Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low and middle income countries, Kenya included.
TB is among the top three causes of deaths for women aged 15 to 44.
Last year in Kenya 102,009 cases of TB were reported, while the cases
of MDR TB (Multi drug Resistant Tuberculosis) were 144.
TB is still a major public health problem in Kenya.
This disease has traditionally been associated with poverty and
consequences of poverty, such as poor housing, poor nutrition,
overcrowding in homes and workplaces, alcohol and substance abuse and
poor access to health services.
TB results from poverty and contributes to poverty, thus creating a
vicious circle that traps the poor.
TB mostly affects young adults in their productive years.
However all ages are at risk of infection.
People who are infected with HIV are 21 to 34 times more likely to
become sick with TB. The risk of active TB is also greater in persons
suffering from other conditions that impair the immune system such as
malnutrition or diabetes.
About half a million children (aged between 0 and 14 years) fell ill
with TB and 64,000 of them died from the disease in 2011.
Tobacco use greatly increases the risk of TB disease and death. More
than 20% of TB cases worldwide are attributable to smoking
(Source: Sunday Nation, 24th March 2013, Advertiser’s Announcement,
Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Division of Leprosy,
Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, page 21)
Br Dr Beppe Gaido
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