Most of the tuberculosis infected patients reach the primary centre in a progressed stage. But a team in Tamilnadu emphasizes on early detection and good nutrition for those afflicted.

Team@CMHF

World Tuberculosis Day was celebrated here on 24th March 2012. At a programme organized by the District Tuberculosis Centre, K. Sundaralingam, Deputy Director, TB (in-charge), said that tuberculosis was curable and it should be diagnosed at the earliest.

In the past 10 years, after launching Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in Tuticorin district, sputum test was done on 1.25 lakh people and about 22,000 were diagnosed with TB. Eighty percent of them were cured, Dr. Sundaralingam said Although Directly Observed Therapy Short course (DOTS) for TB patients was given free of cost by the Health department, nutritious food and high protein diet were essential for speedy recovery of TB patients, he added.

Meanwhile, Rotary Club of Tuticorin district has come forward to provide nutritional support to TB patients.

J. Nallathambi Gnana Thivagaran, Joint Director of Health Services, Tuticorin, said that TB patients must take the prescribed medicine for a period of six to eight months regularly. They should close their mouth while coughing and sneezing and not spit in public places.

If symptoms such as cough, expectoration, fever, decreased appetite, decreased weight and blood in sputum were noticed, they should approach the nearby primary health centre or government hospital and get tested for TB immediately, he added.

Ref: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3220540.ece