H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital has released an important study shedding light on the gender disparities in the prevalence and impact of tuberculosis (TB). Based on their 2022 data, the research shows that 10.6 million people were affected by TB globally, including 5.8 million men, 3.5 million women, and 1.3 million children. Notably, the study highlights that men are diagnosed with TB at a higher rate than women worldwide.
Despite the lower diagnosis rate for women, the study reveals that women are more likely to suffer from severe forms of TB and have a higher incidence of TB-HIV co-infection. The research also explores the tragic cases of three Indian women who succumbed to advanced TB. Their conditions were worsened by factors such as low BMI, immunocompromised status, and delayed diagnosis.
The clinical analysis of these cases, involving women aged 31, 55, and 72, shows they experienced severe drug-sensitive TB. These women had poor prognostic indicators, including hypoalbuminemia and anemia, which contributed to their unfortunate outcomes. The study stresses the importance of early detection, timely treatment, and overcoming socio-economic and gender-specific barriers to improve the prognosis for TB patients, particularly women.
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