Rising TB incidence rates due to increasing population,
delayed diagnosis
By Vimita Mohandas | Posted:
10 October 2010 1546 hrs
SINGAPORE: The incidence rate of tuberculosis (TB)
in Singapore has been rising since 2008.
The Health Ministry said the figure last year was 38.6 per 100,000
residents which translated to 1,442 new cases.
Of these 1,442 cases in 2009, 837 -- or 58 per cent -- of the
patients were 50 years old and above. 1,040, or 72.1 per cent, were
men.
Experts said the rise was due to several reasons, including delayed
diagnosis, a rising population and an increased prevalence of
diabetes.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital's TB Control Unit senior consultant Cynthia
Chee Bin Eng said: "There's a general sense of complacency in our
community and many people think that this disease is a thing of the
past and it has been conquered here, but that's not so.
"We must remain vigilant and it's important to diagnose TB early to
prevent its spread in the community".
Dr Chee advised anyone with symptoms such as prolonged cough,
fever, night sweats and weight loss to seek medical treatment as
soon as possible.
World Health Organisation figures for 2008 estimate that 1.3
million people died from TB, with Southeast Asia having the most
number of deaths.
Migrant workers and foreigners coming to Singapore from countries
with high incidence of TB could also be a factor in the hike in
cases here.
Figures also showed the elderly made up a significant proportion of
new cases in 2009.
"Many of them may have acquired the infection in their youth when
the incidence of TB was much higher and they could have carried the
germ in their body as latent infection all these years," Dr Chee
said.
"These germs could just activate in their old age when their immune
system is depressed."
To successfully control this disease and curb community
transmission, it is important to ensure that all cases are
diagnosed early.
Dr Chee added patients must conscientiously undergo treatment which
takes about nine months.
Under the Infectious Diseases Act, TB patients who persistently
default treatment may be detained at the Communicable Diseases
Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital till they are cured.
-CNA/wk
