Tuberculosis - some interesting facts
TuberculosisTuberculosis (TB) is an infectious airborne disease that is well-known for affecting the lungs, but can affect any part of the body, including the skin, kidneys or brain.TB is a serious problem for London. Between 1999 and 2009, the number of TB cases in the capital increased by 50%. As a result, London now has the highest TB rate of any capital city in Western Europe.TB is curable and relatively inexpensive to treat if identified early. If left untreated, or treatment is not completed, it is more likely to become complex or drug resistant, requiring more intensive and expensive treatment. The cost of treating an uncomplicated case of TB can be as low as £2,000 but can exceed £50,000 for complex or drug resistant cases. More than 12% of the cases in London are considered complex – almost 400 people.Failure to complete treatment can make the problem worse. The standard treatment for uncomplicated TB is a course of two antibiotics for six months or more. Unfortunately only 83% of people complete treatment in London – those who don’t increase their risk of developing drug resistant TB and infecting their friends and families.
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