A survey has revealed that about 9.5% childhood tuberculosis cases are still undiagnosed in Bangladesh, getting in the way of reducing morbidity, mortality and transmission of the disease.
This was brought to light at a programme organised by the Bangladesh National Tuberculosis Control Programme, titled “Debriefing Session of 6th Joint Monitoring Mission 2014” held at Dhaka’s Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel yesterday.
“Childhood TB is a neglected problem in Bangladesh. We have recognised it as an important issue [to deal with],” said Leopold Blance, team leader of Joint Monitoring Mission. “Skilled personnel are needed to expand the diagnosis programme to solve the problem.”
Bangladesh is among 27 priority countries for MDR (Multi-drug-resistant) TB and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB).
According to the summary report, MDR TB in new cases is 1.4% while it is 29% in retreatment cases.
However, the MDR TB was 14.7% in retreatment cases.
“A total of 180,000 patients were detected with TB in 2013, of whom 2761 were in the MDR-TB category and enrolled for treatment from 2008 to 31 December 2013,’’ said NTP MDR-TB Adviser MA Hamid Salim.
‘’Thirty GeneXpert machines have been installed in different places of the country to enhance diagnosis of MDR TB and there is a plan to install 64 machines for all districts within 2014,” he said.
Salim feels that diagnosis and control of MDR TB, Smear Negative & Extrapulmonary TB and Childhood TB are major challenges.
The smear-negative TB and Extrapulmonary TB also remain undetected at the national level, according to Dr Md Ashaque Husain, director, MBDC and Line Director TB-leprosy under the NTP.
There are around 869 Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) centres and 1,089 microscopy labs under NTP, he said.
Bangladesh National Tuberculosis Control Programme conducted surveys in Rangpur, Naogaon, Tangail, Dhaka, Khulna and Cox’s Bazar districts from March 30 to April 10 this year.