Drug Resistant TB and HIV: Doubly Dangerous

Alarming findings regarding new strains of XDR- TB (extreme drug resistant tuberclosis) have been released by WHO, which is said to be incurable and can kill the person within a months time. People of United States, Eastern Europe, S. Africa have already fallen into its clutches.

More than four decades have passed since the last discovery of TB drug in 1968. The bacteria now have started showing resistance to available drugs.

Presently about 1.7 million people across the world succumb to TB annually. But with the advent of this drug resistant type of TB, the toll is bound to rise.

The symptoms being similar, XDR-TB can be differentiated from normal TB on the grounds that the former shows resistance to almost all drugs available. Thus a laboratory test on an infected person's sputum becomes necessary for the diagnosis of the same.

Although TB has been classified as “virtually untreatable” by the World Health Organization, due to its natural resistance towards two first-line drugs- antibiotics Isoniazid and Rifampin and six second-line TB drugs, the combination proves fatal if HIV infected patient comes in the trap of TB.

Officials at the World Health Organization have issued warning signals for HIV rich countries to take protective measures.

South Africa has been the worst hit by the XDR-TB and HIV duo. Reports revealed that 52 out of 53 patients infected with XDR-TB died within a span of 210 days between January 2005 and March 2006. Out of these deceased 44 were tested to be HIV positive.

According to the stats of the National Aids Control Organisation, over 60% HIV AIDS infected patients die of TB.

As the deadly combination moves on the path of growth, discovery of new drugs including TB and HIV vaccines become a necessity.