Fall in Tuberculosis (TB) cases
New figures from the Public Health Agency (PHA) reveal that number of reported cases of Tuberculosis (TB) has dropped in Northern Ireland.
Today (24 March) is World TB Day and data show that there were 70 cases reported in 2015, a fall of 26% on the previous year.
In 2014 there were 97 cases, in 2013 there were 74, and in 2012 there were 87 reported cases.
Dr Michael Devine, Consultant in Public Health at the PHA, said: “Despite the fall in cases in 2015, TB remains an important global and local public health problem. People may think of TB as a disease of the past but it still causes the deaths of more than a million people each year, mostly in developing countries.
“With effective treatment, TB can be a curable disease and World TB Day is an opportunity to raise public awareness to stop transmission of TB by encouraging early diagnosis and treatment.
“The risk is that we become complacent, and with new drug-resistant types of TB evolving, it is essential that we maintain vigilance and know what to look out for. TB is not easily spread; close and prolonged contact is required for someone to even be at risk of being infected. Because of this, the greatest risk is to people who live in the same household.
"Despite the decrease in cases in Northern Ireland in 2015, there is still a critical need for early diagnosis and specialist treatment to control this serious disease. Increased awareness, particularly among groups at high risk, as well as health professionals, is central to this.
“It is important that everyone is aware of the symptoms of TB, which include a prolonged cough, fevers and weight loss. If people are concerned about their symptoms they should contact their GP. Greater awareness can mean the condition is diagnosed and treated much earlier.”
Any of the following symptoms may suggest TB:
• Fever and night sweats
• Persistent cough
• Losing weight
• Blood in your sputum (phlegm or spit) at any time
Dr Devine added: “TB is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs, but can affect other parts of the body. It is spread from person to person when someone who has TB of the lungs coughs or sneezes. Only some people with TB in the lungs are infectious to other people and even then, close and prolonged contact is needed to be at risk of being infected.”
Both health professionals and the general public should be aware of the following key facts about TB:
• TB can be fatal if not treated
• TB is usually curable with a six-month course of antibiotics which must be completed
• Not completing the full course can encourage drug resistance
• TB disease develops slowly in the body over a period of several months
• Symptoms are: fever and night sweats, persistent cough, weight loss, blood in your sputum (phlegm or spit) at any time, a lack of appetite, fatigue and a general sense of feeling unwell
• The infection requires prolonged and close contact in order to spread from person to person
• Under half of cases in the UK have the infectious form of the disease
• Most cases present little or no risk to others
• It is very uncommon to catch TB from a child with the disease
• TB treatment is free for the patient in the UK