Diabetes is prevalent among TB patients and contributes significantly to TB burden Tips For Your Family's Health

Diabetes is prevalent among TB patients and contributes significantly to TB burden

July 1st, 2011 Rory Wayn Leave a comment Go to comments

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that kills many people worldwide. A growing body of literature suggests a link between TB infection and diabetes. A prospective study assessed the association between clinically diagnosed diabetes and TB rates and estimated the contribution of diabetes to the burden of TB. The study was conducted in communities at the Texas–Mexico border where TB is endemic. TB patients at least 20 years of age were tested for diabetes and TB risk attributable to concurrent diabetes was estimated. Thirty-nine percent of TB patients in Texas and 36% in Mexico had diabetes. Diabetes contribution to TB cases was 25%, which was much higher than the 5% contribution of HIV infection. Awareness of diabetes status was less in males than females and less in Mexicans compared to Texans . Diabetes patients were more susceptible to TB infection than nondiabetics, and the increasing prevalence of diabetes worldwide may undermine control and management programs of TB. The biological association between the two diseases is not clear, but immunosuppression among diabetics may render them more vulnerable to the infection. A strategy to integrate programs for TB and diabetes control is recommended : 352-9).

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