Palamu begins preventive therapy drive for latent TB

Daltonganj: Palamu, which reported high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in 2019-20 survey, has kicked off preventive therapy for latent TB infection since October 10, officials said on Monday.
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) consultant on TB and drug resistant TB (roster) in Ranchi, Dr Rajeev Ranjan Pathak, said, “According to the National TB Prevalence Survey held in 2019-20, Palamu was found to have a high number of cases of the disease. Where there is a TB case, there is the latent TB infection too. So, we started the preventive therapy here.”
“We have identified 166 contacts above 14 years of age in Palamu who will be given 12 doses of the preventive therapy. This 12 doses are solely for the contacts of the pulmonary TB patients as this spreads through droplets of cough and sneezing,” he added.
The preventive therapy consists of coated tablets of isonizid (300 mg) and rifapentine (300 mg) along with vitamin tablet.
Explaining the terminology ‘contacts’, he said, “Contacts mean family members who live and spend time with any TB patient in the house. Such family members are highly prone and vulnerable to latent TB infection.”
Palamu district TB officer Anil Kumar Srivastav said, “Three contacts of one lung TB case have started therapy doses on the day of the launching of the drive.”
Reminded that family members may refuse or show reluctance to take therapy dose, the WHO consultant said, “We will have to counsel them about the benefits of the preventive therapy.”