Prelims Perspective: What needs to be learned?

  • Causes
  • Transmission
  • Test to Detect
  • Mission Indiradanush – BCG vaccine                
  • Government Initiatives to Control TB in India
  • MDR – TB

Mains Perspective: Notes need to be prepared

What needs to be known?

  • Tuberculosis (TB)
    • Cause ( Pathogen): Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
    • Affecting Body Part: Primarily affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can infect brain, kidneys, bones (extrapulmonary TB).
    • Transmission (MDRTB): Spread through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
    • Test to Detect
      • Sputum smear microscopy
      • GeneXpert, TrueNat
      • Mantoux test / Tuberculin Skin Test (TST).
    • Mission Indiradanush – BCG vaccine                
  • Government Initiatives to Control TB
    • National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP): The Government of India has developed a National Strategic Plan (2017-25) for Ending TB in the country by 2025.
    • Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMBA): Launched in 2022 for community support to TB patients with the objective to provide people with TB with additional nutritional, diagnostic and vocational support.
    • Ni-kshay Portal: An online Ni-kshay portal has been set up to track the notified TB cases.
  • What is MDR TB?: MDR-TB is tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin.

Source: The Hindu