Notice of the increase in cases of tuberculosis between children in Europe and Central Asia
The report is published in a context of cuts in world aid which, according to the health authorities, could cause a tuberculosis regrowth. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs, but can be extended to other organs.
Cases of tuberculosis, considered as Infectious disease More fatal in the world, Almost 10% of year among children in Europe and central Asia increaseaccording to a new report of international health agencies.
Second The relationship of the European Center for the Prevention and Control of Diseases (ECDC) and the Team for the World Health Organization of Europe (WHO), the data, which correspond to 2023, indicate it The European continent still has to do with the indirect effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. This occurs while the health authorities warn that the cuts in world aid could cause the rebirth of tuberculosis all over the world.
In 2023, More than 172,000 people in the European region have contracted the disease or have undergone a relapse Of the same, levels similar to those recorded in 2022, as the analysis shows. Although the deaths of tuberculosis decreased, they did it at a much slower pace than the crisis of Covid-19. This suggests that many infected people were without diagnosis.
This suggests that many infected people have not been diagnosed or treated when the pandemic has interrupted medical services and that the consequences are becoming clear, according to the relationship. The number of tuberculosis cases in children also seems to increase, with About 7,500 cases detected between children under the age of 15 in the European continent in 2023which represents an increase of 9.6% compared to the previous year, according to the report.
More than 2,400 of these cases have been recorded between children under the age of 5, which run a greater risk of severe disease and death. “The current load of tuberculosis and the worrying increase in children with this infectious disease remind us that Progress against this preventable and curable condition are still fragile“Dr. Hans Klug, director of WHO For Europe.
According to the report made public, the results indicate it Tuberculosis continues to spread throughout the old continent And that “immediate” measures of public health must be launched to control this infectious disease.
Because it is so difficult to eliminate tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs, but can also be extended to other organs. Most infected people do not develop the disease. However, if they do, it can be dangerous and kill 1.25 million citizens per year.
In addition, it coincides with other critical health problems. In the European region, 15.4% of people with new or reactivated tuberculosis also have the Human immunodeficiency virusesThat It can evolve into AIDS if it is notaccording to the relationship.
Tuberculosis affects, above all, people who live in poverty. Could be difficult to deal with for a series of reasonsLike delays of diagnosis, if patients take their drugs in time and the lack of access to adequate treatments.
In order for the drug to be effective, patients should take it daily for six months. Interruption of treatment in advance can make drug -resistant bacteriahindering the treatment of The disease and allowing the spread of infections.
Good medical results of “Prima Riga” drugs
The analysis shows that drugs called “first row” worked in 75.5% of patients in the European region. In the case of multi -resistant tuberculosis, the medicines worked in 59.7% of cases. Considering only the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, The health authorities said to ignore whether one out of five children with tuberculosis has really completed the treatment.
“With the increase in drug-resistant tuberculosis, today’s cost of inhale will pay everything tomorrow,” said Dr. Pamela Rendo-Wagner, director of the ACDC. Last week, Who warned that already cuts in world aid They are undermining progress to eliminate the disease in 27 countriesMost in Africa, in the South -est Asia and the western Pacific. In nine countries, people have difficulty getting drugs against tuberculosis.
Meanwhile, Klux says that programs against Tuberculosis in Europe And central Asia could also be influenced by the cuts. Throughout the region, Russia was the country with multiple cases in 2023followed by Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and Romania. The cuts mean that “the transmission of tuberculosis can go unnoticed, which would further feed on the increase in strains difficult to treat,” says Klug.
