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The article by Pat Sidley that Governmrnt of South Africa has taken a
proactive approach to curb the menace of resistant tuberculosis is a very
welcome step. Tuberculosis has been very rightly declared a global
emergency by World Health Organisation as it is the major killer in the
world. Nobody is immune to it. It is coming back with a vengeance even in
western countries due to HIV infection and more liberal migration of
people in recent years. The resurgence of multiple drug resistant
tuberculosis and recently extremely resistant tuberculosis has really
shaken the world as it is associated with very high mortality and
morbidity. The tests take longer to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment
is very difficult, toxic and expensive. Only directly observed treatment
strategy ( DOTS) for tuberculosis and DOTS plus treatment for resistant
tuberculosis is effective. Time has come that all the governments take the
menace of tuberculosis very seriously and work together with experts and
WHO and other agencies to control this scourge of mankind which is
difficult but achievable and noble goal and is possible only through
science and research.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
26 October 2006
Sangeeta Sharma MD
Specialist & Head Deptt of Peadiatrics
LRS Institute of Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi 110030
A Welcome Step
The article by Pat Sidley that Governmrnt of South Africa has taken a
proactive approach to curb the menace of resistant tuberculosis is a very
welcome step. Tuberculosis has been very rightly declared a global
emergency by World Health Organisation as it is the major killer in the
world. Nobody is immune to it. It is coming back with a vengeance even in
western countries due to HIV infection and more liberal migration of
people in recent years. The resurgence of multiple drug resistant
tuberculosis and recently extremely resistant tuberculosis has really
shaken the world as it is associated with very high mortality and
morbidity. The tests take longer to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment
is very difficult, toxic and expensive. Only directly observed treatment
strategy ( DOTS) for tuberculosis and DOTS plus treatment for resistant
tuberculosis is effective. Time has come that all the governments take the
menace of tuberculosis very seriously and work together with experts and
WHO and other agencies to control this scourge of mankind which is
difficult but achievable and noble goal and is possible only through
science and research.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests