Rise in TB due to population increase, delayed diagnosis
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Rising TB incidence rates due to increasing population, delayed diagnosis
By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 10 October 2010 1546 hrsSINGAPORE: 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 -
see lah so many problems floor traps created.
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haiz, no quarantine nowadays.
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Singapore is just a tiny island, how can it hold more than 5 million+ people?
Stop creating problems for us PAP.
