The Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory to conduct a corona examination of all patients suffering from TB. The ministry has stated that patients with TB are more than twice as likely to develop corona infection as others. Therefore, all patients with TB should have a corona examination. A recent research study has found that 0.37 to 4.47% of corona patients have rapid TB infection. The risk of corona infection increases significantly in patients suffering from TB or who have recovered.

Patients with TB have a higher risk of corona than others

The Ministry of Health has issued guidelines saying that TB during corona infection increases the risk to the patient. “Studies have shown that history of active as well as latent TB [tuberculosis] is an important risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] infection,” the document read. “This not only results in increased susceptibility but also rapid and severe symptom development and disease progression with poor outcomes.” Notably, tuberculosis patients also tend to have comorbidities or living conditions (malnutrition, diabetes, smoking habit, HIV, etc) that increase their vulnerability.

WHO estimated 26.9 lakh cases of TB in India in 2019

The World Health Organisation has estimated 26.9 lakh tuberculosis cases in India. Private sector notifications saw an increase of over 35%, compared to 2018. Around 6.79 lakh patients were notified from the private sector, accounting for around 28% of total case notifications reported in 2019.