Tuberculosis has always been associated with lungs, but the rising concern nowadays is spinal tuberculosis, which affects the lives of around 1.5 lakh patients in India. The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre took an initiative to create awareness on spinal tuberculosis and its implications. Tuberculosis of the Spine, with its disastrous and often irreversible complications, is becoming a cause for concern. Persistent backaches even while resting, fever, hump in the back and loss of appetite should alert one to consult a doctor without delay, said experts.
This problem is referred to as Pott’s disease, or tuberculosis spondylitis. It can lead to long-term complications such as destruction of the bones, deformity and instability of the spine and can also lead to complete paralysis of both legs and upper limbs, if ignored.
The biggest challenge for the medical community is that very few doctors know that TB can affect the spine. Also diagnosis is complicated because there is no absolute diagnostic criterion for the problem.
Urban lifestyle is the main reason behind the Spinal TB. The need of the hour is people must be aware of the problem and must visit their doctors at early stage to avoid complications. There are very effective drugs against tuberculosis and the disease can be completely cured with early detection and prompt, required treatment.
Dear Shyami, Anju and Tanvi,
Keep up the commendable work.God bless you all.
Regards,
Dr. Harvinder S Bakshi
National Director – Advocacy
HelpAge India
C- 14, Qutab Institutional Area
New Delhi – 110016
Dear Shyami & Anju,
Greetings from SRRF!!!
I would like to appreciate and express sincere gratitude, for putting your efforts in sharing valuable information with all of us on SRRF Dialogue.
With warm Regards,
Tanvi Dogra
SRRF Dialogue, Coordinator
In the osteoarticular tuberculosis ie TB of bones and joints TB spine Pott’s spine is 50% F/B hips 25% Knee12.5% along with the bones and soft tissues generalized symptoms and weakness , pain and malaise ,with evening rise of temmperature is hallmark of diseae. The treatment is prolonged for a period of 18 months to 2 yrs along with surgery or without surgery
In fact, it’s a misconception to think that TB is restricted only to the lungs. Most diagnostic tests also focus only on symptoms related to consumption, which is another name for TB of the lungs. But the truth is that TB can strike any part of the body,with insidious and devastating effect. As the symptoms are varied and hard to pin point, detecting such TB is more difficult. Watch out fo rsudden change in metabolism, extreme fatigue, sudden and dramatic loss of weight, froth in urine, occasional mild fever etc.