"XDR TB More Dangerous than AIDS"; Says Patna Physician
Patna: March 24, 2008
 Several health organizations in Patna on Monday observed the World Tuberculosis (TB) Awareness Day by holding health camps, offering free TB screening and distributing free medicines to those with signs of the extremely contagious disease while also holding rallies to raise awareness about it.
A daylong free TB detection camp was organized by noted physician and Medical Director of International Health Organization Dr. Diwakar Tejaswi at his clinic on Exhibition Road under the banner of International Health Organization and Public Awareness for Healthful Living.
Free check-ups and advices were offered to 30 patients as Dr. Tejaswi talked about the rapid spread of Extensively Drug Resistance (XDR) TB followed closely by Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB calling the XDR TB more 'deadly than AIDS'.
He also informed that the first documented case of XDR from the entire region was diagnosed at his clinic recently after the confirmation of sputum culture sensitivity test against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Quoting numbers from studies undertaken by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr. Tejaswi said out of 54 HIV-TB co-infected patients, 33% were found to be having XDR TB with all dying within 3 months of their diagnosis.
Suggesting use of handkerchiefs to cover one's mouth and completion of the entire TB treatment course, Dr Tejaswi stressed the need for early diagnosis and detection to prevent the disease from spreading and timely cure.
Meanwhile, a seminar for TB awareness was organized by the Bihar Tuberculosis Association and attended by noted physicians including Dr. A. K. Thakur, Dr. Ramesh Chandra, Dr. S. P. Srivastava, Dr. Asif Reza, Dr. S. Kumar, and Dr. R. P. Sinha.
Also, a rally between the Income Tax roundabout and JP roundabout was organized by Nidan, a non-profit organization, to spread awareness of the deadly disease.
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