Goa Affairs
12-17% multi-drug resistant tuberculosis cases seen in Goa yearly
Annually, 1,000- 1,500 TB cases are reported in Goa with 12% to 17% of them being multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Though the numbers dont look alarming, MDR-TB cases are still a cause of concern as the recovery rate is 50% or sometimes lesser.
MDR-TB is seen among patients who fail to adhere fully to the treatment regime and consequently, develop resistance to anti-microbial drugs. Close contacts of a patient who develops MDRTB are exposed to the same infection.
The majority may develop MDR-TB for not following the drug regime in toto, but there will be few who may get the disease through a close family contact or in another set-up, where he/she may have been sharing a space with a carrier in a closed Environment. The incidence of MDR-TB in patients who have been detected having TB for the first time, is about 3%.