Tuberculosis is treatable and preventable. Inadequate treatment in many countries is leading to the emergence of extremely drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) for which there is no effective treatment available. XDR-TB in most cases leads to death within weeks of diagnosis making it deadlier than any cancer (in which survival is measured in months and not weeks).
This photoessay by James Nachtwey captures the horrors of this deadly disease.
More research is needed for prevention of TB. We need better vaccines to prevent transmission. BCG vaccine is minimally effective in preventing pulmonary infection and moderately effective against disseminated infection.
Sadly the best drugs for treatment of TB are the ones we have been using for many decades. We may have made enormous advances in all other fields of medicine but in the last several decades we have added very little to our clinical armamentarium to fight tuberculosis.
If the current situation continues XDR-TB may be the next pandemic.
Tags: epidemic, pandemic, photography, Video
