Doctors warn of TB threat

Chisinau sees an alarming rise in the incidence of tuberculosis. In the first quarter of 2008 the rate of open tuberculosis, characterized by coughing up of mucus and sputum, in Chisinau was 11.7 per 100,000 of population as against 8 in 2006. In the first six months of this year the number of detected TB cases was 398, Info-Prim Neo reports. Dr. Zinaida Coroi, department head at Chisinau's Preventive Medicine Center, says that the epidemiological situation is unstable due to the social and economic crisis, massive migration, and the always changing forms of pulmonary tuberculosis. While new infections occur very often, the full-blown disease develops when the person is weakened and underfed. “If you live a healthy and balanced life, go to the doctor at least once a year, you're less likely to get the disease”, said Zinaida Coroi at a news conference on TB on Tuesday. To treat TB patients, Moldova needs at least 200,000 lei annually, as the treatment is normally free of charge and can last for up to 2 years. The cost of the treatment depends on the administered medication and on the form of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient: age, resistance to microorganisms, chronic diseases, etc. There are cases when the cost of the treatment given to a patient amounts to 1,500 lei a day, remarked Zinaida Coroi. The incidence of tuberculosis rises mainly among women. While in the first three months of 2007 the percentage of women who developed tuberculosis was 28.8%, it rose to 31.1% in the similar period this year. At the same time, TB rates are continuing to be high among students. Another problem in treating tuberculosis is the difficulty in detecting it. In the first quarter of this year in Chisinau, 8 TB cases were discovered postmortem. Chisinau's TB patients make up one fourth of all the number of persons sick with tuberculosis in the country. However doctors say the location doesn't count very much; one can get the disease in the most unexpected place. Tuberculosis is transmitted through inhalation and is characterized by cough, fever, shortness of breath, weight loss, and the appearance of inflammatory substances and tubercles in the lungs. Tuberculosis is highly contagious and can spread to other parts of the body, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Most patients with TB can recover if given appropriate medication for a sufficient length of time. Follow-up involves monitoring of side effects and monthly sputum tests. If left untreated, the disease kills a man within five years in most cases.